Bird of the year 2014 – common kingfisher
Kingfisher lurking
The kingfisher is quite rare in Estonia, but well-known because of its appearance and a beloved bird. The blue feathers on the back are exotic and exquisite in our nature and have earned him the nickname Nordic gem which is also the reason for being one of the favourites among photographers.
50 – 300 pairs of kingfishers are nesting in Estonia. Large fluctuations in numbers are a result of cold winters, which often prove to be fatal for kingfishers. The kingfisher mainly lives by rivers and streams and feeds on small fish. The nest cave is usually dug to the shore. The kingfisher may bring up several nests during a summer. The best-known nesting sites of the kingfisher are located on southern Estonian rivers with sandstone denudations. Up to one hundred birds are believed to spend the winter in Estonia. The kingfisher belongs to category II of protected animals and to the I addendum of the European Union`s so-called bird-directive.
The year of the kingfisher plans not only to introduce this bird but also to map its localities and specify the estimations of its numbers, study nesting ecology etc. Attention is paid also to other birdlife of streaming waters.
Estonian Ornithological Society has been nominating the bird of the year already since 1995 and the kingfisher is the twentieth bird in that line. The aim of the nomination is to introduce a bird or group of birds nesting in Estonia to the public and to engage nature lovers in the observation and protection of that species.
Additional information:
Riho Kinks
508 6690
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