Science news from the Year of the Great Tit edited by Marko Mägi, Bird ecology researcher at University of Tartu 

Translation Liis

Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Goldfinch

Goldfinch    Ohakalind     Carduelis carduelis

The passing of migrants heading towards south usually ends with the end of October but weather and winds also play a part. A couple of ten thousand ”brave” winterers remain depending on the severity of the winter. Breeders in Estonia in summer are estimated at forty to sixty thousand pairs.

The sociable goldfinches move around foraging in small groups and so they can be compared to each other easily.

Text and photos  Aare Lindt, www.loodusmuuseum.ee
Translation Liis

Female of December moth

December moth     Paplikedrik       Poecilocampa populi

 

The gusts of autumn gale winds that have arrived do not tempt moths and butterflies especially to appear. We will see how autumn develops during next week?

The December moth is present in all Estonia and is common. The moth is in flight from mid-September to mid-October in broadleaf and mixed forests, scrubs and also gardens.

Photos Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Starlings on bare aspen. Matsalu

Dear garden bird observer!

With today’s notice we end this year’s seven months long Summer garden bird diary season. It is already clear that in this, the third garden bird diary year, almost one-third more garden bird observers participated and recorded more birds and nature observations than last year. Our joint effort in this is very important and necessary to illuminate the welfare of our garden birds and garden life in general.

The exact numbers and results will be announced in the course of the next couple of months after the observations have been reviewed (October) and analysed (November). When questions arise for me in the course of this I will contact the observers.