Info from Estonian Environmental Research Centre, www.klab.ee

Photos Arne Ader

Translation Liis

Hazel catkins

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Flower pollen is an allergen that is present in ambient air and intrudes with breathed air into the bronchi, causing allergic problems for pollen-sensitive people, for instance asthma and hay fever. From spring to autumn, during the flowering period of trees and plants, the concentrations of different kinds of pollen are high in the atmosphere.

Pollen allergy most frequently shows as pollinosis, also called hay fever, the reactions of eyes, nose and bronchi to pollen. Symptoms of pollinosis are for instance reddening of eyes, itching and tear flow, runny nose and sneezing, a heavy whistling breathing and coughing characteristic of asthma. In Estonia about 10% of the population suffer from pollinosis.

Pl@ntnet  tested with own photos by  Kaido Einama from Arvutimaailm

Translation Liis

We have apps for music that on listening recognize the performer and story. We have also software  for organising photos that detect faces in photos and say who is in the photo.  We have not yet good  identifiers for nature sounds, fungi, animals and plants. Or have we? Actually we have. And it isn’t April 1 any longer. Pl@ntNet recognizes a plant from a photo, by its flower, leaf, stems or fruits.

This is a plant identifier created in France and it should know the flora of Western Europe. But it turns out that Estonian plants are no strangers to this artificial intelligence.

Video recorded by  Fleur, LK forum

Translation Liis

Grey seal        Hallhüljes       Halichoerus grypus

Videos and comments Ahto Täpsi
Translation Liis

Spring is here and the waters have been let free. For those who have planned to visit the Uhaku karst area now is a good time to do it.

There is water enough for the river and the underground. Happy watching!

Ohoi Sinda, rauda, raiska,

rauda raiska, rähka kurja,...

Science news from the Year of the Great Tit conveyed by Marko Mägi

Photo of great tit nestbox by Marko Mägi

Translation Liis

Great tit      Rasvatihane        Parus major

Since it is high time to get the old nestboxes in order or to build new ones, many confront the question about space in the nestbox. How big a box does the bird feel comfortable in? Is it at all important how large the nestbox is?