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Spring in the air? Migratory birds returning to southwest

Recent warm conditions appear to be luring Finland’s migratory species to return for spring. Birdwatchers have reported sightings of skylarks and lapwings in areas such as Ruissalo in southwest Finland over the weekend.

Töyhtöhyyppä.
Töyhtöhyyppä. Image: Maarit Myyrä, Saarijärvi

Increasing numbers of migratory birds are returning to Finland as weather conditions warm up. In many parts of southwest Finland, species such as lapwings, skylarks and red breasted robins have been sighted during the weekend.

The ornithological society Bird Life Finland also reported sightings of wrens, dunnocks and gold crests here and there.

Meanwhile many a variety of waterfowl have made their way back to archipelagic areas. In locations such as Jurmo near Turku and Utö on the Baltic Sea, hundreds of merganser and golden eye ducks have congregated to wait for the ice to break up.

Naturalists believe that the warm temperatures expected over the next few days will lure more migratory birds back to southwest Finland.