Pink Footed Gosling

Svalbard Day 12 (backblip)
We spent 30 mins this morning watching a flock of Pink Footed Geese and their goslings. Like the other geese/ducks that we’ve seen here, as soon as the goslings can walk the mothers join up with other female geese and form crèches of up to 12 goslings but they’re also part of an even bigger group. These goslings will have to grow quickly because they will soon be flying south with their parents. Even in two weeks we have seen a big difference in the amount of snow around and the level of water in the river. The eggs have mainly now hatched and their are chicks everywhere.

We had an early breakfast then went off for a final walk for a couple of hours before we left Svalbard. We were not disappointed and saw an Arctic Fox, male and female Ptarmigans and a Snow Buntings feeding their chicks (see extras).

With a heavy heart we caught the bus to the airport. What a special place this is. We were surprised to find out that Longyearbyen has a very high carbon footprint which seems strange when they are so protective of everything else (we have had to balance on rocks whenever we walk to avoid standing on the tundra). The last coal mine (which is where the power comes from) was due to close in 2024, but recent world events have put a question mark over it. Wind turbines won’t work here as they will freeze up. Solar panels are great except for the polar nights when the sun doesn’t shine for two and a half months.

The world’s largest seed vault is also here, buried in the permanent frost, but no visitors are allowed. The airport has no radar so flights can’t land in the fog. And there is no bank on the island so if a business takes cash they have to send the money to the mainland to pay it into the bank. It really is a different world up here and we feel very privileged to have been able to visit it. We hope to return but at a different time of the year.

Both flights were a late so we did not arrive home until after 1am.

Thanks so much for following our trip and for the hearts, stars for yesterday walruses. We will remember that encounter forever.