Text and interviews  Kristel Vilbaste
Photos Arne Ader
Video Villu Karjus
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 25.12.2017

Elva river

The year 2017 was a year of expectations. We waited for when winter would arrive, and  summer. When will the strawberries be ripe, and the cranberries. Everything dawdled. Or never arrived.

A decent winter never came. Or as nature-wise Vello Keppart wrote to me: "There was no phenological winter at Jõgeva, because a permanent snow cover of 30 days never occurred and so in a strict sense winter, or so to say true winter never arrived in Jõgeva. There were longer periods with snow during last year from November 2nd – November 19th (17 days) and this year from January 3rd – January 24th (21 days) and January 30th – February 17th (19 days)."

Information from Estonian Ornithological Society
Webscrap IceAge, LK forum
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 26.01.18

The Estonian Ornithological Society invites you to take part in the winter garden birs count that takes place on January 26 – 28. It has become the most popular birdwatching event in Estonia and the largest public education initiative.

In the count that takes place for the 9th time this year more than 2600 bird friends took pasrt last year and observed altogether nearly 60 000 birds of 64 species. The winter garden bird count is arranged in Estonia since 2010 and the event has been honoured with  the Environmental Enterprise Award of the Year .

Video recorded by  Ahto Täpsi

Photo Arne Ader

Estonian text posted 21.01.2018

This terrain suits  the activities of lynxes

Lynx        Harilik ilves      Lynx lynx

A few degrees of frost and a slight snow cover made the animals use the first few days to familiarize themselves with the new conditions in the forest but the track book is already readable.

Information from Samblasõbrad, www.sisu.ut.ee/samblasober

Photos Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Estonian text posted 18.01.2018

Stair-step moss

Stair-step moss; Glittering Wood-moss       Harilik laanik       Hylocomium splendens

The stair-step moss was elected as Moss of the Year 2018.

The stairstep moss is quite common in Estonia; it occurs in dry pine forests as well as in swampy spruce stands, on tussocks in bogs as well as in pebbly alvars.

The moss of the year is easy to recognize by its fronds forming layers or “steps”.