looduskalender.ee

Before diving

 

 

A part of kingfishers remain to winter in Estonia after nesting. We can meet them at rivers with steep sandstone brinks, sitting on a branch that stretches out above the water. When the bird notices a prey – a fish – it dives with a lunge into the water. It is as if a jewel would have fallen into the water!

 

The bird of the year, the kingfisher, is almost the only Estonian ”parrot flamboyant” bird (in addition to the European roller, Coracias garrulus). In part its colourful plumage even serves as protection  – seen from the air the kingfisher’s back, in bright blue iridescent colours, melts into the shimmering water surface, and seen from land the reddish underbelly becomes difficult to detect against a backdrop of South Estonian sandstone brinks. We also meet them at spring-fed rivers in North Estonia.

 

In harsh, cold winters a large part pf our winterers can perish, the present winter is to the kingfishers’ liking.

 

See the website of EOÜ’s bird of the year, the kingfisher:

http://www.eoy.ee/jaalind/

 

Looduskalender would like to remind about reporting kingfisher meetings to the EOÜ page above. River trout fishermen usually have the best opportunities of seeing the kingfisher. Fly-fishers and spinning casters, be sure to let us know. Unfortunately we still know little about the rare bird’s doings and interesting encounters from earlier years should be described too and sent to:

riho.kinks@eoy.ee

 

Kingfisher observations: LINK