Barnacle geese at Valkeasuo in Tohmajärvi on 6 May 2022. Photo: Jari Kontiokorpi / Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for North Karelia.
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The spring migration of barnacle geese into Finland has stalled due to unseasonably cold weather and persistent headwinds, according to the latest data from BirdLife Finland and ELY Centres.
After a wave of migrating geese was observed on 13 April, no significant movement occurred again until the night of 27–28 April. Between these two waves, cold temperatures and unfavourable wind conditions slowed progress across the region.
On Sunday 27 April, over 1,000 geese were observed at several locations between Tammisaari and Porvoo along the Gulf of Finland coast. The largest single count occurred in Gullö, Tammisaari, with 4,100 barnacle geese heading northeast. Migration activity continued into Monday, with Helsinki’s Lauttasaari reporting 4,750 birds.
Despite these sightings, the numbers remain modest. In a typical peak spring migration, up to 100,000 barnacle geese can be observed in key areas, suggesting the main wave is still on its way.
Flocks have gathered in large numbers at stopover sites, especially in eastern Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme, and Kymenlaakso. The largest recorded flock before the recent migration wave was 6,000 birds in Orimattila on 17 April. That number swelled to 20,000 in the same area on 28 April.
Further east, migration has been more subdued. The largest flock in South Karelia was 2,500 birds feeding in Lemi on 27 April. In Joroinen, North Savo, 1,200 resting birds were observed the following day, while 650 geese were recorded in Outokumpu, North Karelia, on 20 April.
Tracking migratory geese by GPS
GPS data show that out of 37 tagged geese from Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands, only two have entered Finnish territory—currently located in Suomusjärvi and Karkkila. Most remain further south, with birds tracked in Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Jarmo Koistinen, a researcher at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, said the short-term forecast offers limited opportunities for further migration.
“A southerly flow around Thursday and Friday may bring some movement,” said Koistinen. “But after May Day, a northwesterly chill will dominate, further delaying the arrival of migrating geese.”
As a result, the early arrival trend observed in recent years appears to be returning to a more typical schedule. Currently, fields across Finland host more bean and tundra geese than barnacle geese. These species typically migrate earlier in the season toward Arctic breeding grounds.
Migration monitoring continues with support from Tiira bird observation data, weather models, and GPS tracking coordinated by the University of Turku and Natural Re
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
