Although not widely discovered yet, Estonia is ideal country for observing one of the most spectacular natural shows – massive bird migration.
Most birding (or bird watching) enthusiasts come to witness the millions of birds who migrate over Estonia.
Estonian bird fauna consists of approximately 340 natural species: over 200 are nesting birds, around 30 are migrating birds and about 70 are occasional visitors. Many birds are found on small islands where there are up to 13,000 nesting couples per km2. The preferred bird habitats on the mainland include deciduous forests, mixed nemoral forests, reed beds, coniferous forests, flood plains and bogs or bog forests.
Every spring and autumn Estonians, and lucky visiting birders, witness the abundance of birds in the western part of Estonia as the Eastern Atlantic migratory route traverses the country. According to estimations the number may reach 50 million. Geese, Branta species, swans, ducks, and grebes are the most “frequent flyers”. In 1999, Estonia held the European record for the highest number of species seen in a day - an incredible 189.
In order to facilitate bird watching several dozen public watching towers are available. Matsalu Bay and Saaremaa are most beloved by migrating birds. Altogether eleven sites in Estonia have been included in the Ramsar list of internationally important bird areas.
The spring migration usually begins at the time of ice melting (late March) and culminates in April and May. Following the quiet summer and autumn migration of geese and common cranes starts in mid-August and concludes at the end of September.
