Mild winter draws first migratory birds back

Early sightings of migratory birds in southwest Finland, including bean and greylag geese, suggest milder winter conditions and highlight the impact of climate change on traditional migratory patterns.

Comment from Gemini:

Previous related posts highlight a continuing trend of altered bird migration patterns in Finland and surrounding regions, likely due to climate change. The 2021 post details early arrivals of larks, lapwings, and buzzards, directly linking the phenomenon to climate change while the 2020 post mentions early arrivals of whooper swans, geese, and various other species, attributing this to warm air currents. The 2019 post from Iceland provides further context, showing that similar early arrival patterns are being observed in other northern countries, with potential negative consequences for chick survival. The 2018 post, while concerning autumn migration, underscores the influence of temperature on bird movements, with warmer weather delaying departures. The 2021 post noting exceptionally warm temperatures in Finland in 2020 adds further credence to the idea that warming trends are influencing these shifts. This current observation of early-arriving bean geese and greylag geese in 2025 builds upon these previous observations, reinforcing the long-term trend and highlighting the continued impact of milder winters on avian behavior. Articles like this one from Yale Climate Connections discussing the impact of climate change on bird migration https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/10/climate-change-is-disrupting-bird-migration-patterns-heres-what-you-can-do-to-help/ further emphasize the broader implications of these changes. While Hintikka's caution about potential negative impacts of fluctuating weather on breeding success is valid, the overall trend of earlier arrivals warrants continued observation and research.