Hanhikivi as a bird area

Hanhikivi is very valuable bird migrations area. Hietakarinlahti-Takaranta –area has been qualified as a nationally important bird area, FINIBA area (Finnish Important Bird Areas). FINIBA areas are remarkable areas for nature conservation. They are nesting and gathering places for near threatened species and species for international special responsibility.

FINIBA project is maintained and driven by Environment Centre of Finland and BirdLife Finland with its member societies. Also Ministry of the Environment, regional Environment Centres, Natural Heritage Services of Metsähallitus and many nature conservation organizations have been taken part to project.

The criterion bird species due to Hietakarinlahti-Takaranta area has been qualified to FINIBA area is swan. According to registry, there used to gather 300-350 swans per day during the spring migration.

Resource:
BirdLife Finland 5.9.2007

Valuable bird areas of Hanhikivi according to Natura 2000

Parhalahti-Syölätinlahti and Heinikarinlampi are Natura 2000 area (code FI110420). It is defined as an nationally valuable bird water area. Also, the sea-shore meadows of Maunus are qualified as a regionally valuable traditional landscape and as the last clear-preserved sea-shore meadows. The surface area is about 275 hectares.

Parhalahti-Syölätinlahti-Heinikarinlampi Natura area belongs to nationwide bird water conservation programme. The area has been preserved as a statutory nature reserve and/or by Water Act. Preserving the sea-shore meadows of Maunus the primary way is the agreement with land owners.

Species for special responsibility for Parhalahti-Syölätinlahti-Heinikarinlampi areas part are: common tern, crane, whooper swan, wood sandpiper, horned grebe, whistling swan, hazel grouse, blue throat, ruff, smew and red-necked phalarope.

Resource:
Valtion ympäristöhallinnon verkkopalvelu 4.10.07

Tankokari is one of the best known bird watching places at North Ostrobothnia

Tankokari Fishing port locates below Hanhikivi area. It is one of the best known bird watching places at North Ostrobothnia. Birds can be watched excellently when they are flying over the Maunuslahti bay which locates in front of Tankokari. Maunuslahti bay is, also, a good resting place for birds during spring and summer. Tankokari bird tower was build in 1998.

The most numerous bird period lasts from middle of April to end of May. During best days it’s possible to count thousands of bean gooses, swans, gulls, common wood pigeons and pratincoles and hundreds of predatory birds. Chaffinches and thrushes can migrate even dozen thousands per day.

In the end of April migrates major of so called big birds and a bit after them comes Lapland long spur, brambling and thrushes. In May the numerous species are typically shorebirds as like wood sandpiper, spotted redshank and ruff, and at the end of spring swallow and common swift. At Tankokari there used to see every spring also many few-in-number species as like pink-footed and greater white-fronted gooses, peregrine falcon, black-tailed godwit and ring ouzel.

At autumn Tankokari is not as popular bird watching place as at spring, because it is more difficult to observe to north where birds are coming. Anyway, the plethora of little birds arrives to Hanhikivi area and they run down to south just under the Tankokari. At Autumn begins hunting period – area is very popular also among hunters.

Resource:
Pohjois-Pohjanmaan Ympäristökeskus 11.3.08