More visitors today

Today was a mixed day with a very cold start.

Firstly, I had to take Alonza representing Biotope to Kirkennes airport. Alonza has been representing Biotope whilst the TV people and national newspapers have been reporting on the survey work we have carried out in the last couple of weeks.

Secondly, the team at base camp were busy presenting to two school groups. We also had an important visit from a representative of the County Office who oversees the policy decisions relating to the work of the three nations nature reserves in Russia, Finland and Norway. This helped her to put our work in context so that she can present some of our preliminary findings to a meeting of the three countries in Murmansk on Friday this week.

In some ways it was fortunate that we had a relatively quiet day with only 191 new birds ringed, giving us the time to engage with the visitors we had.

Species	Re-traps	New	Totals
Redwing		2	2
Great Tit		1	1
Tree Pipit		2	2
Willow Tit		1	1
Sedge Warbler		1	1
Common Redpoll		1	1
White Wagtail		5	5
Fieldfare		1	1
Redstart		2	2
Brambling		1	1
Bluethroat		7	7
Willow Warbler		59	59
Reed Bunting		35	35
Meadow Pipit		73	73
Totals	0	191	191

Further upstream from our ringing base we have 5 nets rides opposite a blown up bridge from World War 2. I have been told that Germany crossed over into Russia with the purpose of taking over Murmansk in WW2. As they made their journey they experienced a lot of resistance from the Russian forces and decided they should retreat, which they did. Once they got across the bridge back into Norway they blew the bridge up behind them. 

The ruined bridge is still there today as can be seen in the pictures. There has been much discussion by the Norwegian government over the years as to remove the bridge or leave it where it is. The decision is to leave it for posterity. After all it was a significant event that happened at that time and it is a reminder of that.

I heard today that the bridge was designed by Eiffel who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. In 1887 building the Eiffal Tower started. Gustave Eiffal died in 1923.