To be human and to enjoy some of nature’s exotic beauties leads to developing hobbies that enable the exploration of our passions and becoming one with nature. Take this from someone who has been fascinated with the dynamics of the natural environment from the skies to the seas to the trees grasses stars, and birds! Yes, the birds! While I am admittedly not a nature scientist (or a scientist of any kind) and thus do not possess any deep knowledge about bird species, I still want to share my passion with bird-watching with you. Here’s how all you bird-lovers around the world can expand your pursuit of this noble adventure – whether as a hobby or on a professional basis, in the Spring here in Estonia!
ASSORTED SPECIES IN ABUNDANCE
As a result of the relatively untouched state of Estonia’s nature, it is home to hundreds of species of birds and is a destination hub for many more as they migrate during the seasons – a heaven for all who are bird-watching enthusiasts. Estonia’s nature is characterized by bogs, islands, coastlines and vast forests, and is a haven for over 300 bird species, in addition to seals, wolves, brown bears and other species of animals. It is possible to identify over 5 species of eagles and around eight woodpecker species, in addition to other rarities, as well as various owls and storks. Did you know that the record for the number of bird species within a 24-hour time window in Estonia is around 194, coming second-place behind Spain?
Photo credit: visitestonia.com
INCREDIBLE KEY LOCATIONS
Estonia is among the top three locations to go watch birds in Europe due to the number of species that can be observed. Due to the position of Estonia, it is one of the biggest routes of migration for birds traveling between Europe, Africa, and North America. Lots of popular spots can be found across the country for bird watching. On the West coast, the Matsalu national park is one of the prime stopping locations for these magnificent creatures, with its large bay. To the coastline in the Northwest, the Nova nature reserve is a key location. In the south, there are the meadows close to Vortsjarv and Peipsi lakes. For fellow amateurs like me, our lovely city of Tartu is not a bad place to start! What time of the year is best to come, you might ask? I might have given it away from the title of this blog post, but do not stop reading, nonetheless!
Photo credit: visitestonia.com
WHEN CAN YOU VISIT?
There are at least two major migration seasons per annum in Estonia, which are Spring and Autumn. In the Autumn, migrating birds can be seen in September and October. While it might appear a tad bit late to enjoy the full breath-taking experience now, there’s the Spring migration to plan towards and look forward to in March, hitting its peak in the middle of May and concluding in the mid part of June.
Photo credit: visitestonia.com
