Population decline of waterfowl in Finland raises concerns among experts

The population of waterfowl in Finland continues to decline, affecting all hunted waterbird species according to Heikki Helle, a waterbird expert from BirdLife Finland. Recent statistics released by the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) confirm this trend, which has been monitored since the mid-1980s.

Some species are already critically endangered. Notably, the common shelduck has seen a 95% drop in its population over the past 40 years. Other species, such as the tufted duck and the gadwall, have declined by approximately 75%. The common shelduck was classified as critically endangered in Finland’s last red list published in 2019, making it perilously close to local extinction.

In response to these alarming trends, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has temporarily banned the hunting of common shelducks until the end of 2024. Even the once-abundant mallard population has experienced a decline over the last decade, contrary to expectations that it would thrive amid climate change.

Helle notes multiple contributing factors to the decline. Agricultural drainage contributes to nutrient runoff into lakes, leading to eutrophication and increased competition for food between fish and waterbird chicks. The changing water conditions also reduce available food sources. Additional threats include invasive species such as minks and raccoon dogs, which prey on waterfowl.

Helle underscores that Finland plays a crucial nesting role for many European waterbird species, indicating the broader implications of these declines across the continent. While Finland has become proactive, launching the joint Helmi environmental program by the government to protect waterbirds, he argues that existing measures are still insufficient. He suggests further protections for the most endangered species and caps on hunting quotas as potential solutions.