The project is carried out jointly by the Finnish Hunters' Association and BirdLife Finland. The two organisations share a common goal: strengthening waterfowl populations and increasing the diversity of habitats.
This will have long-term benefits for both recreational hunting and the management of bird populations. This cooperation on waterfowl issues between two different organisations, a unique occurrence in Finland, is an indication of how necessary the project is.
What is the SOTKA project?
The SOTKA staging area project is a subproject of the larger SOTKA project, which is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and aimed at reversing the decline of gamebird populations. The SOTKA project is a part of the Helmi Habitats Programme. Run jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment, the Helmi Programme focuses on strengthening the biodiversity of Finnish nature.
Ducks feed in staging areas before autumn migration
Staging areas are habitats that are voluntarily excluded from waterfowl hunting areas. Staging areas allow different waterfowl species to prepare for their autumn migration without being disturbed. Young birds must strengthen their flight muscles before their first migration, and the last broods to hatch may still have poor flying capacity in the second half of August. Meanwhile, older birds need time to finish moulting. Birds of all ages need natural food of good quality in order to accumulate reserves of nutritious fat under their skin. If waterfowl stay in their native habitats longer and begin their autumn migration later, they will be healthier when they return during spring migration.
Why was the staging area project launched?
The quality of habitats and the number of natural environments of birds are declining. This limits the number of newborn birds and thus decreases the number of birds in the autumn. It has also been discovered that waterfowl in Finland begin their autumn migration unnecessarily early. The concerns about the development of waterfowl populations are based on scientific research and long-term data from population monitoring.
Natural conditions would allow waterfowl to stay in Finland for much longer if they had more inland habitats where they would not be disturbed. If waterfowl remain longer in Finland in the autumn, they are more likely to return to the same areas in the following spring.
What is the purpose of the staging area project?
The aim of the project is to create a country-wide network of staging areas that will encourage birds to remain in Finland for a longer time. The network will provide birds with high-quality wetlands where they can prepare for their autumn migration without being disturbed.
These habitats are well-suited for waterfowl as nesting and staging areas. Waterfowl in the staging areas are left undisturbed throughout the entire hunting season, and birds in the areas are not fed.
Read more >> https://mmm.fi/en/sotka-project/staging-areas
Lake Keihäsjärvi in Syvänniemi is a well-known waterfowl habitat. The area has undergone restoration measures to improve water quality and promote the prosperity of waterfowl and waders. Lake Keihäsjärvi and the adjacent lake Pitkäjärvi are part of the national waterfowl habitats conservation programme. The waters in the area are owned by Rasvanki-Virmasveden osakaskunta, a local body of joint owners, which has banned waterfowl hunting in the three local waterfowl habitats – Pitkäjärvi, Keihäsjärvi and Itälampi – for five years. The local hunting clubs will continue to hunt small predators in the area, with a focus on removing alien predators. Image: Heikki Helle.
Contact information
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