looduskalender.ee

 Great tit and house sparrow

 

At the winter garden bird count that took place for the fifth time last weekend, more than 60 000 birds were seen according to the first preliminary data. By Monday morning 2500 bird friends had forwarded their observations and they had watched birds in 1650 locations all over Estonia.

 

Observations can be submitted until February 3rd; after that the final participant number will be clear. The participation, believed to be more than a third larger than last year, will increase the value of the collected data and more reliable conclusions can be drawn regarding the changes in species composition and numbers of our wintering garden birds. The growing popularity of the bird count is illustrated by the fact that according to the preliminary data half of the viewers took part in the garden bird count for the first time. Altogether bird friends observed more than 60000 birds, of at least 58 species.

 

The most abundant species was once more the great tit, making up more than 24%  of the total number of birds watched. As in previous years tree sparrow and house sparrow, greenfinch and bullfinch came among top first five. According to the observations  of many watchers weather conditions favoured birdwatching and in several places more birds than usual were seen. Among the more exciting species grey heron, Ural owl, great grey shrike and the bird of the year, the kingfisher, were seen.

 

The Estonian Ornithological Society thanks all who took part in the garden bird watch!

 

Please note: your observation results must be submitted by February 3rd at the latest. They can be entered on the garden bird watch website:

 

http://www.eoy.ee/talv/vaatlused/

 

All observations already entered, and their locations on the map, can be followed in real time on the website. We also look forward to the questionnaires from observation points where there were no birds during the hour of observation. The final summary will be published in the beginning of March.

 

Observed bird species  TOP
Stand as of January 27,  8.00 o’clock

 

1          Great tit; Rasvatihane               14569          24,3%

2          Tree sparrow; Põldvarblane          8821          14,7%

3          Greenfinch; Rohevint                  8039          13,4%

4          House sparrow; Koduvarblane     5011           8,4%

5          Bullfinch; Leevike                         2966           4,9%

6          Hooded crow;  Hallvares              2467           4,1%

7          Blue tit; Sinitihane                       2322           3,9%

8          Jackdaw; Hakk                            1710           2,9%

9          Blackbird; Musträstas                 1308           2,2%

10        Magpie;  Harakas                        1287           2,1%

 

Additional information:

Aarne Tuule, Winter garden bird watch coordinaator

talv@eoy.ee

58002869

www.eoy.ee/talv