Siikalahti Bay Bird Sanctuary

Siikalahti Bay Bird Sanctuary is the most prized wetland for birds in inland Finland. In the hiking area of the bay, more than 250 species of birds have been observed. 70-80 species of birds are nesting in the sanctuary.

The most recent bird sightings in Siikalahti Bay

Served by Metsähallitus (National Board of Forestry)

Horned grebes are Siikalahti Bay's most beautiful nesting birds. Other grebes nesting in the bay include the great crested grebe and the red-necked grebe. The shallow water of the bay attracts many species of water birds. Sometimes thousands and thousands of ducks and coots can be paddling about in the water. This abundance of birds also attracts many species of birds of prey. Several pairs of western marsh harriers are nesting in the area. Nowadays the white-tailed eagle is also a common visitor.

Some of the more prominent nesting species include the black-headed gull, the little gull and the tern of which several hundred pairs are nesting on leafy islands. The black-headed gulls defend their nests against predators. so many ducks and grebes like to nest in the midst of black-headed gull colonies.

Despite their young age, the forests of Siikalahti Bay contain many rotten trees. The bay and its surrounding area are home to many pairs of white-backed woodpeckers, little woodpeckers and grey-headed woodpeckers. White-backed woodpeckers often feed beside paths leading to bird-watching towers. They are very shy and often creep to the back of tree trunks to hide from walkers.

The area around Siikalahti Bay is very good for nocturnal songbirds. Nesting species include the Blyth's reed warbler, the marsh warbler, the river warbler, the nightjar and the oriole. At night you can also hear the cooing of the Ural owl or the voices of long-eared owl chicks begging for food.

Siikalahti Bay, which runs in a north-south direction, acts as a line guiding the migration of birds. On a really good day, you can see anything from 80,000 to 90,000 migrating birds from the bird-watching tower. Some of these migrants rest in the bay from spring to autumn. Such birds include the bean goose, the white-fronted goose, the swan and the crane.

Rare species that have been seen in Siikalahti Bay include the spotted eagle, the lesser-spotted eagle, the Steppe eagle, the red-footed falcon, the red kite, the Pallid harrier, the American wigeon, the white-tailed plover, the collared pratincole and the marsh sandpiper. The following rare passerine birds have also been spotted: the lanceolated warbler, Savi's warbler, the greenish warbler, the yellow-breasted bunting, the booted warbler and the yellow-browed warbler.

In addition to the abundance of birds, some special and rare species of plant also grow in the bay. Some of the rarer ones include slender naiad, grassy naiad and golden dock. In spring, blue hepatica and lungwort bloom in the groves. Such an abundance of vegetation provides protection and nutrition for a vast number of insects. More than 900 species of butterfly, for example, have been spotted in the area! There are also a great many types of dragonfly. Siikalahti is one of the only places where you can watch a female green hawker laying her eggs without getting your feet wet!

Siikalahti Bay has a spacious bird-watching tower, an observation hut on the ground, a viewing platform and connecting networks of paths and duckboards. Information about the area's species, history and ecology is available at the Luontotupa (nature centre) and on signs posted at regular intervals on the nature trail. About 70 people can comfortably be accommodated at once. When the ice is melting, moving around in the sanctuary is forbidden apart from on specially marked paths. In winter movement is unrestricted. Metsähallitus is responsible for the area.

Good hiking destinations in the area of the bay include the harbour on the northern side and the road going around the southern tip. It is also worth going to check out the birds from the dam that goes across the middle of the bay. This is a good place from which to see wading birds and listen to the nocturnal songbirds.

You'll find out more about the nature in Siikalahti Bay if you go around with a guide. Guided tours can be arranged for groups of all sizes.