Information from Omniva 
Translation Liis

The stamp in the series “Estonian  fauna“ was released on August 25^th. A birch mouse is shown on it.

The whole series of fifteen stamps is designed by Sándor Stern.

The birch mouse (Sicista betulina) is the size of a small mouse and a rodent belonging to the Dipodids or jumping mice family. Its characteristic features are the black streak on the back and the tail that is much longer than the body.

Birch mice are omnivores, eating fruits and seeds of plants but also insects and larva.

They hibernate from September until May. On waking up in spring they only weigh about 8 grams but until autumn they store plenty of fat reserves, and weigh nearly 15 grams.

Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis

Itinerary

Englishwoman Sacha Dench will follow Bewick’s swans by paramotor on their migration from the breeding grounds in the Russian tundra through 11 countries. The length of the journey to reach the wintering areas of many Bewick’s swans in UK is about 7500 km.

Preliminarily the participants should be in Estonia on October 9^th–13^th, visiting Matsalu, Luitemaa and Tartu. The number of Bewick’s swans has been reduced by about half in the last twenty years. The number of the subspecies (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) that passes Estonia during the autumn migration is estimated at up to 18000 individuals.

Read more about the expedition: LINK

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

September thorn

September thorn   Tamme-sügisvaksik   Ennomos erosarius

 

The September thorn is present in all of Estonia and is locally common. The moths fly in oak forests, broadleaf forests, parks and gardens in August and September.