The beaver web camera is once more online and this year it is installed on the shore of the Penijõgi in Matsalu National Park.
Behind the beaver lodge the largest reed field at the Baltics is visible and you can hear the sounds of the birds and perhaps even the sound of the golden jackal.
Tawny Owl web camera is running now for the ninth season and we are still calling the resident couples Klaara & Klaus, although we can be rather sure that they are not the same couple from the first season (2009).
Tawny Owls are not ringed and so it is difficult to distinguish how many different Tawny Owls we saw breeding here meanwhile.
On October 2018, the jackal - Canis aureus - web camera started again! Web camera can be viewed here. It is installed in the Saastna peninsula, on the shore of the Pikanina farmstead that is about 6 km away from the previous web camera spot in Metsküla. The Saastna peninsula and its immediate neighbourhood has at the moment the most numerous jackal population in Estonia.
The first sighting of a jackal in Estonia was documented here in Matsalu National Park in 2013.
Visit Matsalu - one of the most recognized national parks in Europe!
We are delighted to officially announce the launch of a very first Newsletter of Matsalu National Park tourism area!
In connection with the 100th birthday of Estonia, this year's bird is the particularly dignified Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), in Estonian METSIS.
The Capercaillie is a native species and one of the natural symbols of Estonia. It is one of the first bird species to arrive here after the last ice age and has been here as least as long as man. The lekking grounds are usually located in pine groves over 100 years of age. The nearest habitat suitable for Capercaillie is located 20 km away from Matsalu National Park.
The Estonian Ornithological Society chose the Tawny Owl as the bird of the year for 2009.
Since then we have had the chance to observe the breeding of the handsome Tawny Owl pair – Klaus and Klaara - nesting in Matsalu National Park. We are not quite convinced that we still have the same Klaus and Klaara since it is not possible to tell birds from different years apart - but who knows - they may be!
During the festive mess of Estonia’s Centennial it was suddenly realized that while we had chosen a national flower, bird, rock and fish we were still missing a national mammal.
This year's migration started a bit late, but April brought long-awaited warm weather after a chilly March, and Matsalu Bay and surrounding coastal meadows, floodplains and fields are teaming with birds. After the early arrivals have come several migrants from Africa, including Barn Swallow - Estonia’s national bird.
Matsalu National Park and Estonia are participating in the research that is conducted by the University of Liverpool.
Estonian Environmental Board launched a new website www.natparks.ee, where you can find information about Estonian national parks and other protected areas in Estonia. The website is available in English and Russian and includes information about the natural, historical and cultural heritage of Estonian protected areas, as well as events taking place there.
Environmental Board nature conservation advisor Kaja Lotman said: