About "Birds of the Year" winter numbers
Information from Ülo Väli, www.eoy.ee
Photos Arne Ader
Translation Liis
Common buzzard
Common buzzard Hiireviu Buteo buteo
Rough-legged buzzard Taliviu or karvasjalg-viu Buteo lagopus
Two species of buzzards spend the winter in Estonia. The observations entered by birdwatchers on the bird of the year home page have helped to get an overview of their winter numbers and distribution, and so has the monitoring of birds of prey wintering in Estonia by the raptor group of the Estonian Ornithological society.
Buzzards have been encountered this winter throughout Estonia, but their numbers are particularly high in West Estonia. During December and January the greatest numbers of buzzards were seen in Saaremaa – 26% of all buzzards, they were also quite numerous in Pärnu - (20%) and Läänemaa (11%).
The distribution of rough-legged buzzards is somewhat different: exactly half of the representatives of this species have been seen in Saaremaa and one-fifth in Hiiumaa, the small number of remaining observations were quite evenly distributed across mainland Estonia. The monitoring of wintering raptors shows that the numbers of both buzzard species is greater than last winter.
In December and January this winter 183 observations of 201 buzzards were entered on the Bird of the Year home page; more winter observations of buzzards from bird fans are welcome. The collection of observations continues also in spring. Quite soon the number of buzzards here should begin to increase rapidly because already in March the first buzzards that have wintered southwards can be expected.
See the buzzard year home page:
Results of the survey of wintering raptors:
Rough-legged buzzard
More information:
Ülo Väli
56477549