More than 10 000 nature observations were made in a 24-hour period during the Nature Observation Marathon

During the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 Arts of Survival Creative Nature Festival on 8-9 June, over 10,300 nature observations were recorded within 24 hours. All observations, except those of strictly protected species, can be viewed on the eDiversity data portal managed by the University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden.

Over 2,200 nature enthusiasts and scientists participated in the seventh edition of the Nature Observation Marathon. At 52 sites, over 220 people recorded observations and mapped biodiversity. For the second consecutive year, observations were also made outside Estonia, with results coming in from observers in Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden. "I am pleased that the number of participants increases every year. This year, more than 2,500 more observations were made than last year," said Veljo Runnel, who oversees the marathon.

The highest number of plant species observed was 843, including Germander speedwell, Bird vetch, and Cow Parsley. Insects were the second most abundant species, with 740 observed. Among the 150 species of birds, the most striking ones were the White wagtail, Eurasian chaffinch, and Common blackbird. Other groups of fauna were observed less frequently.

The majority of observations were conducted in the village of Mädara in Pärnu County by Villu Soon, Peeter Tarlap, and Oleg Borodin. Within a 24-hour period, they were able to document almost 700 species, the highest number of species ever recorded at any marathon site. Nearly 630 species were discovered in Riidaja in Valga County, and almost 600 species were documented in Vaibla in Viljandi County. Latvians secured the fourth spot after recording 430 species. Priit Zingel gathered the highest number of species in the individual count, totalling 628 species.

The Nature Observation Marathon is a citizen science initiative that uses the internationally renowned BioBlitz observation format to identify as many species of wildlife as possible in a given area and over a given period of time. It's a collaborative effort between natural scientists and enthusiasts. The Nature Observation Marathon is organized by the University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, in partnership with nature education institutions and volunteers from all over Estonia and Europe.