Three Tagged Birds Missing on Migration
Most of the birds furnished in Estonia with GPS transmitters have made it to their winter homes in Africa, but three went missing on this year's migration, said eagle expert Urmas Sellis.
Assigned names, the cranes and eagles have all made it to their destinations, but for three of the birds only the last known whereabouts are listed, ilmajaam.ee reported.
Only the common crane Lootvina, on the way to Ethiopia, did not make it past Egypt - at least according to her transmitter. The hybrid spotted eagle Luule's last known location was in southern Italy; and the lesser spotted eagle Kaarel likely met an end in Uganda.
Selis said there is a small chance the missing birds are still alive and that their transmitter will be found, but said the chance is not good, even though in 2007 one bird was later found.
To track the birds on their peregrinations, a real-time birdmap funded by the Environmental Authority is available (in English and German as well) at http://birdmap.5dvision.ee/.
Kristopher Rikken