Record-breaking arrival of barnacle geese in Finland at start of May

A record-breaking flock of more than half a million barnacle geese has arrived in Finland at the beginning of May, according to a statement from the country’s wildlife centres (Elinvoimakeskukset).

The migration marks the earliest known mass arrival of the Barents Sea population in Finland, with roughly half of the region’s estimated 1.5 million barnacle geese now present in eastern and southern parts of the country.

BirdLife Finland’s Tiira bird observation service reported the highest concentrations at Loviisa’s Aspskär on Saturday and near Savonlinna’s Lake Puruvesi on Sunday. The influx began on Walpurgis Eve (30 April) and peaked in early May.

North Karelia alone has recorded over 200,000 barnacle geese during this migration wave.