File Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.
The victory in bird-watchers’ Battle of Towers event went this spring to Pyhäjoki in Pohjois-Pohjanmaa. In the Parhalahti fishing port, 111 species of birds were seen in eight hours on Saturday.
BirdLife Finland, the organiser of the event, said in addition to the winning tower, at least one hundred species were seen in Lumijoki, Kokkola, Oulu, Hamina and Virolahti.
A total of 325 towers participated in the event and more than 2,000 people came as spectators. About 220 different species of birds were seen.
Among those seen were egrets, pallid harriers, kites, marsh pipers and spotted redshanks. Some of the rarer birds were the ruddy shelduck in Jämsä, the greenish warbler in Pargas and the little crake both in Raasepori and Parikkala.
The Battle of Towers is held annually in May. Birdwatchers who participate must identify as many birds as possible.
