From Bird Guides
New data indicate that Finland's Great Grey Owl population has risen modestly in recent years, suggesting that this enigmatic and much-sought-species may be adapting to changing environmental conditions.
The trend bucks expectations for an owl closely tied to cold, boreal habitats and highlights the complexity of responses to climate change.
Long-term monitoring, including national surveys and assessments, shows an increase of some 8-9% in Finland's Great Grey Owl numbers over recent years, as reported by Ornithomedia. There has been some redistribution within the country's range, too; Central Finland has seen declines offset by gains in northern areas, while the overall trend remains positive.
The species typically favours extensive boreal forest and relies on small mammals such as voles for food. Its population has historically been limited by fluctuating prey cycles and habitat constraints.
Researchers suggest that warmer conditions and milder winters may be influencing survival and distribution patterns, although the precise mechanisms remain unclear. In other northern European countries, range shifts have been documented with owls establishing further south or west than in previous decades – a pattern that may partly reflect changing climate regimes alongside natural population dynamics.
Despite this encouraging signal for Finland's Great Grey Owls, conservationists caution that the species remains dependent on healthy forest ecosystems and regular prey availability. Broader climate change effects, including altered snow cover and unpredictable vole cycles, could still pose challenges.
Continued monitoring across Scandinavia will be essential to determine whether recent gains translate into stable long-term recovery or simply reflect short-term fluctuations.
More owls are the best owls!