Lake Kerkini: Famous lesser white-fronted goose Mr Blue, from the Arctic, is wintering in Greece

The famous throughout Europe Mr Blue and another 53 rare lesser white-fronted geese from the Arctic Circle are enjoying the warm Greek winter in the wetlands of Lake Kerkini.

With them are also six small baby chicks, the first of this year, which their parents take care of with great vigilance and not unjustly, since in recent years the reproductive success for the members of the Finno-Scandinavian population is unfortunately not a given.

In Kerkini, as every year, the famous Mr Blue and his family are wintering, as well as another lesser white fronted goose with an orange band which is – in all likelihood – Mr Finn.

“Mr. Finn” is distinguished by the orange band on his leg (Hellenic Ornithological Society)

The lesser white-fronted geese (Anser erythropus) is an endangered migratory species and the genetically distinct Finno-Scandian population that winters in Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey does not exceed 80 breeding pairs.

As Georgia Alexopoulou, communications manager of the Hellenic Ornithological Society, explained to state news agency APE-MPE, “Mr Blue, thanks to the transmitter he has on him, provides us with valuable and useful information about the long journey that the geese make every year, about the resting stations and more generally about how they survive. Mr. Blue is a recognizable lesser white-fronted goose in many areas of Europe, so there is comprehensive information on how the populations move and live.”

As for Mr. Finn, although he does not often monopolize the limelight, like Mr. Blue, he nevertheless seems to be the patriarch of the goose population, since in 17 years of life he counts a total of 22 offspring.

“Not a small achievement for a bird that travels from Finland to Greece and back again every year” emphasizes Ms. Alexopoulou, pointing out that “this dwarf goose has an orange ring on its leg, so it is recognizable, and from its annual presence in the area of Kerkini we know how many years it makes this trip and has reproductive activity”.

Another favorite Greek goose goose destination, the Evros Delta, recently hosted conservation experts from Hungary, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland and Greece for the 3rd Life LWfG Climate Monitoring meeting.

In the Evros Delta the main action is to increase the available habitat by improving the grasslands in the western part of the wetland.

The action will be implemented mainly through the purchase of abandoned agricultural land and through rehabilitation and management projects.