BirdLife Estonia

Birdlife Estonia (Estonian Ornithological Society) was founded on 1 May 1921 and has acted continuously since then.

Birdlife Estonia is a voluntary association of people interested in birds, bird study and conservation. Our mission is to achieve favourable condition of birds in Estonia by means of bird studies, habitat conservation and awareness raising in the society.

In 2000 Birdlife Estonia became a full member and partner of BirdLife International. In January 2019 the membership of Birdlife Estonia exceeded 550.

Our key activities

• Carrying out inventories of Important Bird Areas and Natura 2000 sites.
• Coordinating annual and periodic bird monitoring schemes.
• Carrying out applied research projects to gain new knowledge on the ecology and habitat use of rare and declining forest and farmland birds.
• Advocacy work with national and local governments and institutions.
• Media work and consultancy.
• Coordination of the annual Bird of the Year campaigns to raise awareness and involve the public in data gathering.
• Organizing traditional birdwatching events throughout the year.
• Coordinating two citizen science projects – Winter Garden Birdwatch and Summer Garden Bird Diary – that attract around 3000 people each year.
• Publishing the scientific bird journal Hirundo, where recent results in Estonian bird ecology and ornithology are being published.
• Publishing the free quarterly journal Tiirutaja, which is targeted at a wider audience to raise awareness of birds, their ecology, behaviour and promote events.

For networking and discussion of particular topics, public mailing list linnuhuvilised@lists.ut.ee, Facebook group and page are created.

Every summer the annual meeting of the members of Birdlife Estonia and birdwatchers is held as an open-air weekend camp to learn, watch and study birds and have fun.