All the Baltic States were represented at the Nature Observation Marathon for the first time

For the sixth time, the Nature Observation Marathon took place on 10-11 June as part of the ninth Nature Festival programme. Over 24 hours, nature lovers made more than 7,700 nature observations. All observations are public on the eBiodiversity Portal. 

This year's marathon included 46 observation sites across Estonia, 22 on private and 24 on public land. One hundred fifty-four observers entered observation data for 2252 species or taxa above the species level, and a total of 7758 observation records were collected in 24 hours, of which a large proportion were plant observations. This is more than 500 more than last year when 7181 observations were recorded. In addition, 958 people took part in nature walks, workshops and other activities related to the marathon - over half of the 562 people who took part in the Kadriorg Public Observation Area programme. 

While last year the most observed species was the common chaffinch, this year, the most observed species was the bird's-eye speedwell, a very conspicuous blue-flowered plant, followed by common nettle and common chaffinch. 

The highest number of records, 664, was recorded in the Vaibla survey area in Viljandi County, but the highest number of species was found in the green area of Pärnu's coastal zone - 533 species. Indrek, Jaak, Irja and Jakob Tammekänd and Riina Georg also entered the highest number of taxa (551) into the database. "I am pleased that the community of Pärnu participated so powerfully in this year's marathon in a species-rich green area of interest to the citizens of Pärnu, where many different species were mapped in 24 hours. This included the discovery of a species that is endangered and rare in Europe, the marsh angelica," said Veljo Runnel, the leader of the nature marathon. 

For the first time in the history of a nationwide nature observation marathon, the observers were also located outside Estonia, with observations from the town of Daugavpils in Latvia, the surrounding area, and the Vilnius region in Lithuania. The marathon aims to draw people's attention to the biodiversity around them and to encourage them to report on it. All the observations entered will be visible on the eBiodiversity Portal, used by natural scientists and conservationists in their work. 

The main organiser of the nature marathon is the University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, with the help of the Birdwatcher portal, several institutions promoting nature education and volunteers from all over Estonia. Thank you to all participants, co-organisers, partners and supporters. 

The Nature Festival is organised by the University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden in cooperation with partners. The Nature Festival is part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 programme.