Transmission courtesy of  Elisa and EENet

The 2016 Bird of the Year of the Estonian Ornithological Society is the great tit. The doings of one of our best known and widest spread bird can be observed the year round. The web page of the Great Tit Year is at www.eoy.ee/rasvatihane/. The Estonian Environmental Investments Centre, Keskkonnainvesteeringute Keskus (KIK), supports the Bird of the Year activities. It seems that colder winter weather has finally reached us too, and it is the last moment to set up a feeder for your feathered friends .

Video recorded by  Fleur, LK forum
Translation Liis

 

 

Red deer      Punahirv         Cervus elaphus

 

Red deer gather in bachelor flocks for the winter – the mating period ended about a month ago, the aggressivity of the stags has calmed down and even the neck muscles are not as thick and ready for fight as before.

Winter is spent peacefully but the hierarchy ladder is recognized throughout the year, see the video.

Video recorded by  Aita, LK forum
Translation Liis

 

 

Brown trout   Jõeforell or hõrnas   Salmo trutta trutta morpha fario 

 

Usually it is sufficient for a spawning milt fish, i e a male, to look his competitor squarely in the eye or to push it with his nose, and the smaller curious explorer disappears quickly (this we often see at the spawning ground). In the video the obstreperous individual is punished by a painful tug at the fin.

Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Bohemian waxwing in apple tree

Definitely an interesting exhibition, and hopefully winter apples can be tasted too.

November 30 to December 11, open every day 10-17

Videos recorded by Aita, LK forum
Translation Liis

 

 

Otter    Harilik saarmas    Lutra lutra

The otter belongs to the indigenous Estonian species and is a mammal protected by law. We have to do with an extremely mobile animal whom scientists have difficulties in monitoring.

With a good hearing and sense of smell it distinguishes moving objects in water as well as on land easily. In contrast an unmoving observer at the river bank may not be noticed.