The boreal forest belt that runs from Scandinavia proper throughout to the Pacific and past holds some resilient fowl species, that are capable of survive the cruel and darkish winters. When the times lengthen and the snow steadily begins to soften, a few of these birds get into breeding plumage and nest within the deep forest whereas others migrate even additional north to breed. I’m aware of the western finish of this forest in Finland and Sweden. To watch a few of its birds in spring and early summer season, through the quick breeding season, provides us a glimpse of the fantastic thing about a few of these birds that many people dwelling additional south solely see, in the event that they attain us that’s, in winter plumage. These birds of the Boreal belt shifted their geographical vary southwards through the Pleistocene glaciations, some reaching as far south as France however not past.
A favorite place of mine, and plenty of birders, is Kaamanen in Finland. At 69oN, it’s effectively inside the Arctic Circle within the coronary heart of the Finnish Lapland. That is the land of reindeer and large tracts of coniferous forest. The lodge at Kammanen is the perfect staging submit on the best way as much as Arctic Norway. The slopes behind the lodge are stored continually equipped with seeds, making it an excellent location to see and {photograph} the native resident birds and people transferring via. The native squirrels additionally get drawn to the meals supply. The images illustrating this text had been all taken at Kaamanen, albeit at completely different occasions of the spring-early summer season season.
Probably the most hanging fowl of this forest is, for me, the Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator). You can’t however be struck in awe whenever you first see this passerine – it’s enormous! The males are a brilliant pink however the golden-coloured females are additionally beautiful in their very own proper. A few of these birds transfer south, a comparatively quick distance, for the winter however others are resident. In spring you get a mixture of migrants and residents on the feeders.
If the Pine Grosbeaks are spectacular, there’s a fowl that beats it for color. It’s a fowl I used to be aware of however which I at all times wished to see through the slender window when it obtains its breeding plumage. I’m speaking of the male Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla). It’s important to get them effectively into the spring if you wish to discover birds with a full black head, with none white spots.
Kaamanen additionally provides us an opportunity to match two closely-related finches. Right here you might be within the overlap zone of the breeding vary of the Frequent Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) and the rarer Arctic (or Hoary) Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni). What beauties these little finches are.
All the time in attendance on the feeders are the great Siberian Jays (Perisoreus infaustus). If you happen to like corvids, Siberian Jays is not going to disappoint you. Their antics and daring behaviour, permitting you to rise up shut, will quickly win you over. There’s one other fowl of the forest, one which I photographed elsewhere in Finland, which I want to finish with. Get them early within the spring and also you’ll catch them nonetheless of their all-white winter plumage – the Willow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus). This fowl might be tough to find as a result of means it blends within the snow however in early spring the males will climb up tree branches to “sing” and show to the females.
One final phrase on resilient species. I’ve highlighted among the Boreal Forest specialities however we must always not neglect some residents which we will discover throughout a lot of Europe and that are ready to deal with the cruel situations up right here. Amongst them are Nice Tit (Parus main) and Greenfinch (Choris chloris). My subsequent article will have a look at the winter in these forests.
