In Finland, whooper swans glide along serene lakes. Named after their loud call, the swans’ song helps their young stay by their side during the first year and strengthens family bonds. The country’s national bird may appear like something out of a fable. But their journey to survival hasn’t always been a fairytale.
When this northern species chooses a mate, they pick a lifetime partner. Together they return to the same nesting site each season. Come winter, they migrate south to the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. While whooper swans are one of the larger and heavier flying birds, with a wingspan nearing three metres, they can fly thousands of kilometres. But in the 1900s just a few occupied the Finnish skies as they were nearly hunted to extinction.
By 1940, only 15 pairs remained in the country. In an attempt to preserve the nation’s iconic bird, the Finnish government declared the whooper swan a protected species. Thanks to these efforts, the swans managed to survive near death and nearly 10 000 breeding pairs live across the country today.
With a thriving population, these birds are free to cultivate an epic romance and ensure their tale is long-lived. Although whooper swans still face threats such as habitat loss, by protecting their environment we can ensure they are able to fly wherever their wings may take them.
Photos by Valtteri Mulkahainen were used in the creation of this film.
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