Vaibla Bird Obseravtory
History
Founded in 1987, Vaibla Bird Observatory is the only inland bird station in Estonia at the present time. It is run entirely by volunteers organized as a non-profit organization.
In 2017 station celebrated its 30th anniversary with an educational conference. Every autumn groups of pupils visit the Observatory and get the opportunity to see and release birds. Older students stay at the Observatory as interns or gather data for their school research paper. Sharing knowledge and educating people in biology has always been the major goal for the team.
Practising under supervision of experienced ringers has brought a lot of students closer to science and nature and often leading to career in research and environment protection. Along with popularization, Observatory participates in international projects and contributes scientific data to researchers.
Activities
Visitors and volunteers participate in everyday activities and thus develop their practical skills. Program includes:
• introduction to Estonian birds,
• basics of ringing and mistnetting,
• identification and measuring practice,
• safety of birds.
Contacts
• +372 503 9306
Contact persons
• Art Villem Adojaan (villem@adojaan.net +372 5331 6182)
• Kristjan Adojaan (kristjan@adojaan.net +372 503 9306)
Ringing/banding at Vaibla
• 25 seasons (1987-2024).
• Main ringing season in July and August, occasional sessions in autumn and spring.
• 190 000 ringed birds (see totals and last/current year results).
• 131 bird species (see the list in the table of totals).
• More than a 100 foreign recaptures (see the map)
• Up to 200 meters of mist-nets
TOP-12
Barn swallow 46000
Sedge warbler 34000
Willow warbler 13000
Chiffchaff 11000
Reed warbler 8800
Marsh warbler 7400
Blue tit 7100
Great tit 5000
Garden warbler 4900
European robin 4800
Whitethroat 4400
Eurasian blackcap 3900
