This coming Saturday, birds will be seen at work, when the traditional Battle of the Towers race is on the program. More than 300 teams have registered.
According to Södersved, you should continue feeding the little birds at least where there is still snow on the ground.
– If the snow hasn’t been there for a long time, even though it’s a little cold at night, during the day it gets to the plus side in such a way that the birds can find food, he says.
This coming weekend, on Saturday, Birdlife will organize a traditional \”Battle of the Towers\” bongo contest, where the aim is to spot as many bird species as possible from the bird tower in eight hours.
More than 300 teams have registered for the competition and they have reserved a bird tower for their use. There are many teams from the Ostrobothnia counties from the coast.
According to Södersved, most of Finland’s good bird towers have been built in good birding spots along the coast.
– Inland, there are still good birding spots and towers that have not yet been reserved. They can still be booked right up until the event starts on Saturday morning, he says.
Bird enthusiasts are the first to apply for the best places. After that, we’ll see what’s still available.
– I encourage you to look at the towers near your home and head there to see what you can find, says Södersved.
Birdlife uses the term spring’s big birding weekend. In addition to the battle of the towers, the program includes a Bongaa day in the yard event, which anyone can participate in either on Saturday or Sunday.
– You can watch the birds in your own yard for as long as you want. You can go there to drink a cup of coffee and take a look, or you can go outside and count what you can see during the day, says Södersved.
Experienced bongars in Marinkais
– Actually, it could be translated into Finnish as pretty good, Vierimaa says about his team’s name.
The group includes both Finnish- and Swedish-speaking birders. All members are long-term birders and have known each other for decades. According to Vierimaa, all are experienced men.
– I don’t think there are any under 50 years old.
On Saturday we will meet in Finnish.
– Searching for bird names in Swedish is not enough, says Vierimaa.
According to him, binoculars improve the possibility of identifying birds. Vierimaa says that even quick identification is possible when there is experience in the background.
– Just a glance is enough to know which species it is, he says.
Vierimaa says that most of the birds just stop in the field of vision. Resting birds such as swans, geese and mallards can be seen throughout the day.
– You might also find something rarer among the crowd, when time digs up the sea area in front of it, says Vierimaa.
Picnic food and barbecue
In their backpacks, the members of Kålkko Bra pack normal hiking snacks, such as coffee, tea and sandwiches. After the end of the competition, the group goes to a nearby home to grill something to eat.
– There will be discussions and the species lists will be checked before we start announcing the number of sightings, Vierimaa says.
Although the group has reserved the tower for their use in advance, there are some random visitors every year. According to Vierimaa, everyone has always been able to fit in.
– Agreement gives place, he says.
Last year, the group that won the competition competed in 113 sports. Kålkko Bra’s score was 103, and with that he took eighth place in the race. Sometimes the group has even been a few notches higher.
– At the national level, we are immediately behind the top, says Vierimaa.
According to him, in Merenkurku and further north it is very possible to get to the top of the competition. For example, Raahen Pattijoeli has been right at the top.
– The inland towers are in a worse position compared to the seashore towers in the sense that you can often see species at sea that you hardly see inland, Vierimaa says.
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