Posts Tagged Wildlife
A common summer visitor
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on June 16, 2010
Did you know? A few facts about dragonflies
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on June 16, 2010
Dragonflies (øyenstikker in Norwegian) are insects that live by lakes, ponds, streams, dams and wetlands (their larvae, known as ‘nymphs’, are aquatic). Adult dragonflies are often brightly coloured and have a long slim abdomen. They also have two pairs of long, slender transparent wings covered in net-like veins. The wings do not fold and are held outstretched when at rest.
There are 5,000 different species worldwide, and 45 different kinds of dragonflies in Norway – 39 of which you can find in the Halden municipality. Many of them are quite rare, and three are protected in Norway, because their habitat is threatened: these are the Dark Whiteface (Leucorrhinia albifrons), the Bulbous White-faced Darter (Leucorrhinia caudalis) and the Yellow-Spotted Whiteface (Leucorrhinia pectoralis).
In most cultures dragonflies have been objects of superstition, and European folklore is no exception. Different names referring to dragonflies as the devil occur in several languages, although it is worth noting they have also been connected with love and young women (the original fairies). An old Swedish name for dragonfly is blindsticka (‘blind stinger’) – it came from the belief that a dragonfly could pick out your eyes. In Norway, on the other hand, it was thought that the dragonfly could sew together your eyelids – hence the word øyenstikker.
The King of the Forest
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on April 15, 2010
A few facts about the moose
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on April 15, 2010
The moose (alces alces) is the largest species in the deer family, and is known as ‘the King of the Forest’.
In 2007 there were 120,000 moose in Norway.
All moose are herbivores and eat many types of plant or fruit. The average adult moose needs to consume 9,800 calories per day to maintain its body weight.
An adult moose stands 1.8–2.1m (6–7ft) high at the shoulder. Males weigh 380–720kg, females 270–360kg.
The moose has long, thick brown fur. The hair is hollow, which helps keep the moose warm. The moose also has long legs. Its front legs are longer than its rear ones – this helps it jump over fallen trees and other obstacles in the forest.
Only males (called bulls) have antlers. These can reach up to 1.8m (6ft) across, although 1.2-1.5m (4-5ft) is more common.
The mature bull drops its antlers after the mating season each year to conserve energy for the winter. A new set of antlers regrows in the spring. Antlers take three to five months to fully develop. They initially have a layer of skin, called ‘velvet’, which is shed once the antlers become fully grown. The velvet has blood vessels in it that deliver nutrients that help the antlers grow.
The moose is active in the day, especially at dawn and dusk. It has very poor eyesight but good hearing and an excellent sense of smell. It is a very good swimmer and can swim as fast as 10km (6 miles) an hour. On land they can run up to 56km (35 miles) an hour over short distances, and trot steadily at 32km (20 miles) an hour.
Moose are not usually aggressive towards humans, but can be provoked or frightened to behave with aggression, especially when they have youngs around. And although moose actually attack more people than bears and wolves combined, it’s usually with only minor consequences.
Moose collisions with vehicles and trains, on the other hand, cause more damage to property and injuries to people, sometimes even death. The Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten estimated in January 2008 that some 13,000 moose had died in collisions with Norwegian trains since 2000. That’s a lot of dead moose every year – please remember that when driving on remote country roads at dusk (the time of day when you’re most likely to hit one).
Enningdalselva: One of the finest salmon rivers in Norway
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on March 31, 2010
The Enningdal River (Enningdalselva), also called Berbyelva, is the name of the river that runs from the Bullaren Lake in Sweden, through Enningdalen and into the sea at Iddefjorden in Halden, 13km downstream. It is one of the finest salmon rivers in Norway. Because it is situated far from the salmon farming plants along the country’s western and northern coast, it is so far not threatened by genetic pollution from escaped farmed salmon. Nor is the salmon here badly infected with salmon lice, a big problem in salmon farming plants and many salmon rivers elsewhere in Norway. The biggest salmon caught in Enningdalselva weighed 17.8kg, although most salmons are smaller (the average weight is 4.5kg). Some 140 salmons were caught during the 2009 fishing season. The season lasts from May until August. The Workers’ Association of Hunters and Fishermen in Halden is responsible for the protection of the salmon population and the regulation of the salmon fishing in the river. A permit is needed in order to catch fish in Enningdalselva.
There are also freshwater pearl mussels in the river. Norway has more than half of the total population of these mussels in Europe. They are a threatened species, and it is strictly forbidden to harvest them. Each individual mussel can reach a size of 7-15cm, and they can become 200 years old!
One of the tributaries to Enningdalselva is Elgå, which runs directly on the border between Norway and Sweden. Just before it enters Enningdalsvelva, Elgå falls some 46m down the Elgåfossen (see earlier entry on this blog) – the highest natural waterfall in Østfold.
Top 10: Norway’s national parks
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on March 25, 2010
Norway counts as many as 40 national parks (33 on the mainland, and 7 on Svalbard), and deciding on which one(s) to include in your itinerary can be tricky. Here are some of the most popular:
- Jotunheimen: Literally ‘home of the giants’, this is where you’ll find Norway’s highest peaks. Prime hiking territory in summer.
- Rondane: Vegetation is sparse in these barren mountains because of altitude and climate, but this desolate landscape has inspired many artists.
- Dovrefjell: Home to the majestic Snøhetta, and the rare musk ox, a survivor of the last ice age.
- Hardangervidda: Europe’s largest mountainous plateau, home to a large herd of wild reindeer. Arctic plants and animals such as the Arctic fox and the snowy owl can also be found here.
- Jostedalsbreen: The largest glacier in mainland Europe, 80km long. A great place to try a glacier walk.
- Femundsmarka: Between Hedmark and Sør-Trondelag, an area with myriad lakes and streams, popular with anglers.
- Salftjellet – Svartisen: The largest ice sheet in Scandinavia, with polished marble caves and underground rivers.
- Ytre Hvaler: Europe’s first marine national park, in Østfold (jointly with Koster NP in Sweden, on the other side of the border). Home to rare deep-sea corals, as well as seals, reef sharks and colonies of seabirds.
- Øvre Pasvik: The largest area of primeval forest in Finnmark, home to a population of brown bears.
- Nord-vest Spitsbergen, Svalbard: Arctic landscape and rich wildlife, including large colonies of sea birds, reindeer and walrus.
A great place to go bird-watching
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on March 23, 2010
Øra Nature Reserve, Fredrikstad
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on March 23, 2010
Øra Nature Reserve lies southeast of Fredriksad, where the river Glomma meets the Oslofjord. The area is known for its rich birdlife – some 250 species have been registered here. The reserve occupies a strategic place in the main migratory path in southern Norway, and is an important resting stop for the migration in the spring and autumn. It was here that mute swans established their first home in Norway. They were observed building nests, laying their eggs and rearing their offspring on Øra as early as 1937. Wading birds and many different kinds of ducks also come here - most common among them are whooper swans, mallards, green-winged teals, Eurasian wigeon, common goldeneyes, wood sandpipers, greenshanks, ringed plovers and dunlins. The area also attracts some endangered species, including rare seagulls.
The reserve is also of interest as the only big marine soft bottom estuary in Norway – the brackish waters in the area attract fish species usually found in both sea and freshwater. And while the inner shallows of the Øra bay are dominated by reeds and sandy creeks, the outer bay has a real marine character, with many islands and skerries further out into the Oslofjord
The area, which covers some 15,5 square km, has been a protected nature reserve since 1979, and a recognized Ramsar Wetland since 1985. It includes, among others, the islands of Hestholmen, Løvøy and Nes Ramsøy. There is a bird-watching tower there, incongrously located by a rubbish heap, affording great views of the area. The best season for bird-watching is from mid-March til May and from mid-August til the end of October.
Listen to the great tit (parus major)
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on February 13, 2010