SOUNDSCAPE- BLACK WOODPECKER,HELIMAASTIK-MUSTRÄHN Information taken from wikipedia The Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) is a large woodpecker that lives in mature forest across the northern palearctic. It is the sole representative of its genus in that region. Its range is expanding in Eurasia. It does not migrate. This species is closely related to and fills the same ecological niche in Europe as the Pileated Woodpecker of North America. The Black Woodpecker is mainly found in forested regions, with a preference for extensive, mature woodland, including coniferous, tropical, subtropical and boreal forests. It is very widespread throughout mountainous and lowland forests. It is more likely to occur in marginal woods near human habitations during the non-breeding season. The woodpecker feeds by using its bill to hammer on dead trees to dig out carpenter ants and wood-boring grubs. Like all woodpeckers, this species has a specially adapted neck containing very strong muscles, which allow it to endlessly hack away at tree bark. Due to the size of its bill and large size and great physical power of this bird, it can access prey fairly deep within a tree. In order to position itself correctly, it has short, stumpy legs, as well as long, sharp claws and very stiff tail feathers. The woodpecker will more than likely choose a tree with a fungal disease, such as heart rot, although some will utilise a living, healthy tree. Once a hole has been made, the black woodpecker chips downwards through the trunk of the tree, creating a nesting chamber, the only lining being the woodchips created throughout the process. The Black Woodpecker's excavations provide homes for many other species of bird and mammal, and is therefore considered to be a "keystone" species in many of its habitats throughout its range. It not only provides habitats for other species, but also controls populations of wood-boring insects, helping to protect the trees. Musträhn Musträhn on Eesti suurim rähn ja üldse väga ilus ja huvitav lind. Ta võib kaaluda umbes 300 g, mis on üle kolme korra rohkem kui suur-kirjurähn. Erinevalt teistest Eesti rähnidest on ta süsimust, läikiva seljaga. Kontrastselt paistab silma väga suur kollakashall ülitugev peiteljas nokk, samuti on mustal taustal imeilus isaslinnul esinev punane lagipea. Tihti tegutseb poolpõlenud puudel, kus on sulestiku värvi tõttu teda väga raske märgata. Ebaharilikuna näib veel peenikese ja pika kaela kohta liiga suur pea, tiivad on tal ümaratipulised. Levinud on ta nii Euroopas kui ka Aasias, Eestis puudub liialt kultuuristatud maastikel. Ta on meil võrdlemisi sage ning huvitava välimuse, hääle ja elukommete tõttu saanud rahvajuttudes väga populaarseks, ehkki teda ei õnnestu sugugi mitte sageli metsas kohata. Levinuim rahvapärane nimi on vahest ehk nõgikikas. Elupaigana eelistab musträhn suuri okasmetsi, männi-segametsi, kõrgetüvelisi hõredaid männikuid, raiesmikke ja põlendikke. Pesitsusvälisel ajal elab üksikult. Välja on kujunenud huvitav paarumismäng. See toimub kusagil metsaserval: emaslind lendab madalasse puutüvele, isane talle järele veel madalamale, siis taganeb emane spiraalis ümber puutüve paar meetrit kõrgemale, isane ei jää sammukestki maha. Seejärel lennatakse järgmisele puule. See kordub kuni lennatakse sügavamale metsa, et alustada pesaehitust. Pesakoopa raiub musträhn tavaliselt haava- või männitüvesse ja kõrgemale kui teised rähnid: 8...10 meetri kõrgusele. Pesitsemine algab juba märtsikuus, millest annab märku isaslinnu vali trummeldamine.

• published: 02 Mar 2014
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