Birdwatchers diary: www.linnuvaatleja.ee
Linnuvaatleja introduces new book in English
Birding Estonia, the first comprehensive guide in English to birdwatching in Estonia for birdwatchers and tourists interested in nature has been published.
Sexually oriented behaviour between individuals of the same sex – climbing on back, copulating, seducing partner – has been observed in several bird species and mostly among females. The partners may for instance groom each others plumage, build or share a nest and even incubate eggs. Sexual acts between male birds are known from at least 93 bird species of which however only 18 cases (19%) have been identified in pairs in permanent relationship; most frequently male pairs are found among geese (Anseriformes) and suliform (Suliformes) birds. There are however only rare reports of common nesting attempts among male birds.
Linnuvaatleja news, www.linnuvaatleja.ee
Translation Liis
Estonian text posted 30.10.2017
The passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) that lived in North America in the 19th century and whose flocks consisted of several billions of birds has probably been the most numerous bird species in the world.
Info from Estonian Ornithological Society
Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis
Estonian text published 10.10.2017
Wigeons. Matsalu
Results of the EuroBirdwatch days: only 185 000 birds
On the international EuroBirdwatch 2017 days on September 30 and October 1, Estonian bird friends counted altogether 185 000 birds of 162 species. The same number of species was seen as in earlier years but the number of birds was smaller than usual. The wigeon turned out to be the most numerous bird for the second year in succession.
Linnuvaatleja science news, www.linnuvaatleja.ee
Translation Liis
Estonian text published in Looduskalender.ee 19.09.2017
In the first weeks of their life the inexperienced young birds are easy prey for predators. They also have little knowledge of foraging opportunities which makes them stay close to the nest.
As is the case with many other birds of agricultural landscapes the number of turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur) has declined rapidly in Europe and also in Estonia. In the years 1980 – 2013 the number of the species fell by in Europe 78%, and by as much as 96% in Great Britain in the interval 1970 – 2012
News from Linnuvaatleja, www.linnuvaatleja.ee
Translation Liis
Estonian text published 24.09.2017
In addition to the cranes that have nested in Estonia large numbers of cranes arrived from Finland during last week from their northern breeding areas to Estonia . Now large crane flocks can be seen feeding in the fields in daytime and heading for the overnight areas in the evening.
Linnuvaatleja news, www.linnuvaatleja.ee
In the geat tit webcam nest all 8 nestlings fledged and left the nest on Saturday, July 15th. As first in the morning the oldest, 20 days old, left and as last the smallest nestling, up to 4 days younger than the others.
The departure of the great tit nestlings can be seen in the videos listed below (recorded by Urmas Lett, EENet):
Linnuvaatleja news, www.linnuvaatleja.ee
(Published in Estonian 11.07.2017)
In the great tit webcam nest the nestlings have problems with parasites. You can see that the chicks are constantly shaking themselves and every now and then some parasite (for instance louse flies) crawl across their backs. This is however nothing exceptional – in the nests of hollow nesting birds several different kinds of parasites are found such as fleas, chewing lice, Brachycera flies and mites and ticks.
Linnuvaatleja news, www.linnuvaatleja.ee
(Published in Estonian 05.07.2017)
In the great tit webcam nest the first chicks hatched on June 25th. By today [July 5th] the chicks have grown impressively: both adults feed them diligently during the whole daylight period. But whom do the parents bring as food for the nestlings?
Linnuvaatleja news, www.linnuvaatleja.ee
Translation Liis
Although counting the nestlings in the camera nest is not easy – either the adult is warming the young in the nest or all chicks are not visible, lying on top of each other – Looduskalender forum says that probably all 8 chicks have hatched.
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