Hirundo 2/2002

Ots, M. & Lilleleht, V.
Rarities in Estonia 1998-2000: Report of the Estonian Rarities Committee
Summary: This third report of the Estonian Rarities Committee covers the years 1998-2000, but some earlier records have also been included. Altogether 186 records were definitely assessed (Table 1), and 161 (87%) of these were accepted. The records are listed in systematic order and presented chronologically. Records of birds of unclear origin, escapees from captivity, corrections and changes, and records not accepted are listed separately from the main list of accepted records.
The four numbers in brackets after species’ name (a/b – c/d) indicate (a) the total number of records before 1998, (b) the number of individuals (if possible to judge) before 1998; © the number of records in 1998-2000, (d) the number of individuals in 1998-2000. X instead of a number means unknown number of records or individuals.
The details included for each record are: date(s), locality, parish (khk.), District, number of individuals (is., isend), pairs (paar), nests (pesa) etc. If more than one, sex and age (if known; a = calendar year) and names of observers. The meaning of some estonian terms and expressions: ja = and, läh. = near, jv. = lake, s. = island, laht = bay, (tõenäoliselt) sama isend = (probably) the same individual, pesitsemine = breeding, lõpp = end.
In 1998-2000, 6 new species in an apparently wild state (aerc category a) were added to estonian list: in 1998 Anthropoides virgo, Calandrella brachydactyla (altogether 2 records in the whole period) and Anthus richardi (3), in 1999 Phalaropus fulicarius, Phylloscopus humei and Phylloscopus schwarzi. Also one species of category e (escapees from captivity) – Anas formosa – was recorded for the first time in 2000 in estonia. In the same period the breeding of Dendrocopos medius in Estonia was confirmed.
Altogether, 341 species of apparently wild state or released species which have established self-supporting breeding populations in Estonia or in neighbouring countries (i.e. categories A-C) and five species of unclear origin (category D) have been recorded in Estonia by 31.12.2000.

Lõhmus, A.
Use and quality of natural nest sites of the Tawny Owl in Estonia: nest boxes are not better than tree cavities
Summary: This study (1) presents data on frequency of different natural nest sites and nest trees of the Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) in Estonia; (2) compares its reproductive success in different nest types, particularly in tree cavities and nest boxes. The material originates primarily from the nest record archive of the Estonian Ornithological Society and a special questionnaire to raptor enthusiasts in 2001-2002. Most data are from 1970-2000. Clutch size, brood size, breeding success and total productivity were the analysed indicators of reproductive success. Brood size means the number of fledged or (in case of incomplete data) large young (at least of ringing age). Breeding success was defined as the share of successful breedings (with at least one young fledged) among all breeding attempts. Productivity is the combination of these two variables (i.e., the number of fledged young per breeding attempt).
Sixty-nine percent of the natural nest sites of Tawny Owls (n=98) were situated in tree cavities, 18% in buildings, 6% in top cavities or crotches of trees, and 6% in other locations (Table 1). Typical nest site was a side-cavity in a deciduous tree, most often in a lime (Tilia cordata) in a park or near farm. Such frequency distribution of nest sites was very similar to that in southern Finland, but differed from the latter by the use of open stick nests, which is typical to the Tawny Owls in Central Europe.
Both clutches and broods tended to be larger in the two most common natural nest types (cavities, incl. open cavities, and buildings) than in nest boxes (Table 2). However, in buildings, breeding attempts failed most often (26%, n=31), usually because of nest robbery or disturbance by humans. Also pairwise comparisons of the annual breeding parameters between tree cavities and nest boxes indicated that reproduction tended to be more successful in cavities, although the differences were statistically not significant (Table 3). To summarize, the quality of natural nest sites (particularly tree cavities) of the Tawny Owl is good in Estonia. Given that the number of old deciduous cavity-trees or house ruins has not markedly decreased in the recent decades in Estonia, there is no need for nest-box supplementation.

Elts, J.
The Lapwing – Bird of the Year 2001
Summary: The Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) was the Bird of the Year of the Estonian Ornithological Society in 2001. Based on the answers of a special questionnaire, the paper analyses flock sizes and habitat use of the Lapwing in pre- and post-breeding season. Out of 700 distributed questionnaires, 45 were received back; 20 included data about spring migration (75 observations of 925 individuals) and 12 about autumn migration (63 obs., 11 800 ind.).
Most of the observed spring flocks contained up to 20 individuals (Fig. 1). After arrival (in March), the species occurred mostly on grasslands, and less than quarter of all birds were observed on arable lands (Fig. 2). During spring, the importance of grasslands decreased, and in April the birds were more or less equally distributed between the two biotopes. Post-breeding congregations contained mostly up to 400 but occasionally up to 1000 individuals (Fig. 3). In July and August, approximately a quarter of birds were seen on arable lands; the frequency of use of this habitat increased twofold in September but dropped again to about 20% in October.

Elts, J.
Has the departure of Lapwings become later in Estonia?
Summary: The Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) was the Bird of the Year of the Estonian Ornithological Society in 2001. As a part of the campaign, data about latest autumn observations in 1991-2001 were collected via Internet and special questionnaires. Thirty observations about a total of 4000 individuals were received from western Estonia (Fig. 1). None of the observed birds had visually detectable conditional deviations. Ninety-five percent of the Lapwings were reported in November and only 5% in December; all large congregations occurred in the first half of November. The average flock size was 170 individuals in November and 26 individuals in December (medians 25 and 15, respectively). The last observations were made between 10 November and 16 December, the average of the latest observations being 15 November. The share of the observations from December in the last decade was comparable to the published data from the period 1949-1986 (Rootsmäe & Rootsmäe 1974, 1978, Rootsmäe 1991). In contrast, according to the annually latest observations and assuming that observation quality has remained more or less the same, Lapwings seem to depart later now (Fig. 2; r=0.448; p<0.001). However, it is also possible that after the Second World War the latest Lapwings were not detected because of restricted activity of observers.

Paal, U.
On the bird fauna of Ilmatsalu
Summary: Based on observations from 1992-2002, the paper gives an overview about the bird fauna In the surroundings of Ilmatsalu (26°33’ E, 58°24’ N; Tartu county). Considering also the previously published data, 201 bird species have been recorded in the area, including more than 120 breeding species. The most interesting observations are presented.

Eenpuu, R.
Immigration of the Bohemian Waxwing, Common Redpoll, Snow Bunting and Long-tailed Tit to Estonia in 1996-2001, according to ornithophenological data
Summary: Immigration of four common bird species – Bombycilla garrulus, Carduelis flammea, Plectrophenax nivalis, Aegithalos caudatus – is described according to the results of the ornithophenology project of the Estonian Ornithological Society in 1996-2001. In addition, records of the Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) and Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) are listed. Unfortunately it is clear that many observations have not reached the database of the project.

Notes
Tuule, E. & Tuule, A.
On the nesting sites and neighbours of the Kestrel
Lepisk, A.
On the breeding of the Dipper in Taevaskoja
Sild, S.
A brood of seven nestlings in the Barn Swallow

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