Bird nest delays final Hailuoto ferry departure from Oulu

The final ferry serving Hailuoto has been delayed from leaving Oulu after another nest with two chicks was found aboard, Yle reports. Finferries will monitor the birds for at least another week before deciding when to move the Meriluoto ferry.

Finferries safety and traffic director Pasi Roos said the nest was discovered on Sunday. The company will continue monitoring the situation even though a bird expert believes the chicks have little chance of surviving because they are still at a very early stage of development this late in the season.

Last week, the Licensing and Supervisory Agency granted permission to disturb house martins and barn swallows nesting on the ferries and dock structures, destroy nests and eggs, and relocate chicks.

Roos said Finferries had contacted an animal care facility several times about taking in the chicks, but it was unable to accept them.

“We believe we have acted responsibly and ethically and respected the values of nature,” Roos said.

Artificial nests planned for next spring

Finferries is required to provide artificial nests in the area before next April. The aim is to give the birds places where they can begin a new breeding season next spring.

Moving the ferries would mean that the nests at the ferry harbour would no longer be available to the birds next summer. Swallows usually return to the same nests.

The Mergus and Merilsilta ferries were granted permission to leave for Turku last week. The Meriluoto ferry was permitted to leave Oulu no earlier than Sunday, August 9.

Threatened house martins have nested on the Hailuoto ferries for as long as ferry services have operated. The problem arose when nearly 60 years of ferry traffic between Oulu and Hailuoto ended at the end of June, about a month earlier than expected.