The birds are back!

There are not many sure signs of spring around here (yet), but the return of the birds is one.

Outside my window right now a group of snøspurv (snow bunting) is larking about, and outside earlier today I could hear them chirping. We observed the first snøspurv on Saturday (one day before Svalbardposten), and Sunday I took a picture of these two suspicious-looking polarmåke (Glaucous gull).


The same day two ryper (ptarmigan) sat in the snow near our house (we almost didn´t see them, they´re good at blending into the background) - but they´ve been here all winter, so I suppose they don´t really count.

Anyway - as spring still seems far away (despite the light all night long, and the slightly warmer sun), the birds are a heart-warming sight. It baffles me that they decide to migrate here, though. Why not somewhere warmer? Somewhere with trees.