Science news from the Year of the Great Tit edited by Marko Mägi, marko.magi@ut.ee University of Tartu Bird Ecology department
Translation Liis

Tits as well as birds of prey gather at birdfeeders and this forces the tits to be constantly on watch. Distinguishing a dangerous bird of prey from a harmless species is vitally important.  While taking to flight  is crucial if a dangerous bird of prey approaches it is not necessary to waste energy in vain  if it is harmless.

From what do the tits recognize the birds of prey that are dangerous to them? The question might seem strange at first but finding an answer has been a real challenge to scientists and because of that until now relatively poorly studied. Evidently it works by way of the birds’ sight but what precisely are the details tonte in the raptor?

Text Kristel Vilbaste
Photo from Vikipeedia
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The railway station building in Tartu in 2014

When I lived at the Peipsi shore for seven years train travel in Estonia became unfamiliar to me. There were simply no trains to Mustvee. From time to time we collected birch whisks and picked wild strawberries from the old railway embankment.

The only railway trips during that period I made in Europe, mostly from an airport to the city. Once, yes, I travelled a longer distance by train, from Malaga on the Spanish sun coast to Cordoba. Train travel was slower than by air, more troublesome and actually probably more expensive.

Video record  Urmas Lett, www.eenet.ee
Translation Liis

Grey seal     Hallhüljes     Halichoerus grypus

Actually the seals began to gather at the beginning of the thaw, on Thursday. How did the ”greys” know that it would turn into a long-lasting thaw?

Judged by a glance it can be believed that there are well over three hundred there. Where many are together things always happens …