BirdLife Finland is an organisation of 30 Finnish bird societies. It aims to promote bird watching, bird research and protection of birds, their habitats and biological diversity.

BirdLife Finland is a partner of BirdLife International, a world-wide organisation of over 2,5 million individual members operating in over one hundred countries. The European Union classifies BirdLife International among the most remarkable and reliable experts in environmental issues.

The member societies of BirdLife Finland have about 10 000 members. Guided bird watching tours, education and other activities are participated by tens of thousands of bird and nature enthusiasts.

Bird conservation work of BirdLife Finland is based on sound information about birds and the state of their habitats. Scientists and birdwatchers gather this information. BirdLife Finland's strength lies in the member societies and their active birdwatchers. Broad international connections ensure obtaining information from the world's leading bird specialists. Projects and legislative recommendations are based on a high level of scientific research.

Loss of biological diversity is one of the biggest threats to mankind. Birds are important indicators of the environment. Changes in their populations reflect changes in our environment. There are about 10000 bird species in the world and 1186 of them are endangered. In Finland there are about 80 bird species that are endangered or near threatened. Loss of birds is a threat to other species, nature and mankind.

90 % of the breeding birds of Finland winter abroad where they are threatened by devastation of habitats, environmental pollution and uncontrolled hunting. We need extensive international co-operation in order to secure their return every spring. BirdLife Finland represents the high level of Finnish research and knowledge on bird conservation.

BirdLife Finland supports the Estonian Ornithological Society e.g. by raising funds for Important Bird Areas (IBA) programme in Estonia. This programme aims to identify and protect the internationally valuable bird areas of Estonia, where millions of birds stop to feed and rest in the course of their long migration.

BirdLife Finland arranges numerous birding courses, tours and camps. Bird watching tours are also conducted abroad, e.g. Estonia, Latvia and the coastal area of Arctic Ocean. Courses comprise ecology and identification of birds and, of course, bird watching. The basics of bird watching are also taught in youth summer camps. All courses deal with issues relating to bird and nature conservation. Nearly all fieldwork in Finland is done by the 30 regional societies of BirdLife Finland. Their activities include monthly meetings, bird tours, identification and other education and club evenings. They also gather bird observations, which are valuable sources of information for both national and international research and conservation of birds. The regional societies report regularly about their activities and most of them have their own magazine. The amount of voluntary work is great both in the field and in the office.

The easiest way to participate in these activities is to join your own regional organisation. Membership fee varies between the societies and is usually between 8-25 euros. By paying the membership fee you will get BirdLife Finland's membership magazine Tiira and the advantages of the member society.

By joining the BirdLife Finland conservation club you support valuable bird conservation work in Finland and other countries in areas where our own birds winter and rest while migrating.

Linnut journal ('Birds') is published quarterly. It provides information about bird conservation, bird watching and the latest discoveries of bird research. With its rich content and beautiful pictures it is a useful and enjoyable journal for everybody who is interested in birds and bird conservation.

Linnut yearbook contains results of bird monitoring programmes and reviews on threatened species.

Tiira -membership magazine is published quarterly. It informs the members about recent topics in BirdLife and about upcoming events of BirdLife Finland and regional societies. It also serves as a connecting link between birdwatchers.

The Conservation bulletin presents both Finnish and international conservation projects and their background. It also informs about conservation situation of endangered species. The bulletin is sent to the supporters of the conservation club.

Ornis Fennica is a quarterly international journal published by BirdLife Finland. Ornis Fennica publishes descriptive, analytical and experimental papers on the ecology, behaviour and biogeography of birds. The geographical emphasis of Ornis Fennica is on Fennoscandia, but papers from other regions will also be considered.

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