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Male great tit

 

The great tit is the most numerous winter bird in Estonia. About 0,6 to 1,2 million individuals are estimated to winter here. The difference to the next most common winter species is great, there are 200 000 -600 000 individuals in winter of the goldcrest that is in second place and the maximum counts of common winter birds such as the tree sparrow and the house sparrow, the blue tit and greenfinch already stay at 300 000 – 400 000. Summaries of the status, breeding and winter abundance of Estonian birds have been published by the Estonian Ornithological Society (EOÜ) regularly in the journal Hirundo, most recently in the spring issue of 2013 for the period of 2008-2012  LINK

 

The status of the great tit is regarded as stable in Estonia; the results of the surveys do not show any sustained increase or decrease in their number.

 

Changes in the winter abundance of the great tit (abundance index) in the years  1987-2014 based on the winter bird census data

 

Estimates of changes in the numbers have been obtained from the winter bird counts that have been arranged in Estonia already since 1987. Last winter, 2014/2015, the count was carried out on 46 tracks. The summary of the count together with an analysis of the changes in the numbers of the 20 most abundant winter birds can be read here: LINK

 

It is important to monitor continuously the status also of common bird species. In case of numerous species often it is not noticed that the number of the birds might have fallen by half – the species is still common and seen everywhere, although actually already a large number of birds  have disappeared. Changes are often noticed only when the numbers have been reduced by many times. By then it is complicated to attempt something to protect the species, the monitoring has to be carried out continuously and over a long period. The best method to estimate the winter status of our most common and abundant birds is the winter bird count. Taking part in the count is not complicated; detailed directions and a form for it is on the EOÜ web site: LINK

 

The winter bird count is carried out in three periods: the autumn count on November  15^th.-28^th, the Christmas count on December 25^th to January 7^th and the spring count on February 15^th.-28^th. Although by today the Christmas count period has already ended it is permitted to make the count a little later due to unfavourable weather (e g snowstorm, severe cold).

 

It is never too late to start – for the spring count about to begin soon it might be useful to walk through a suitable path, to be prepared to join fully next winter.

 

More information about the winter bird census:

Jaanus Elts

jaanus.elts@eoy.ee'