Pukinjärvi is located in the Onkilahden–Pukinjärvi valley north of Vaasa, about 5 kilometres from the city centre. Pukinjärvi is a long, narrow lake with an area of approximately 34 hectares. There is housing on the west side and industry and the Metsäkallio fitness trail on the east side. North of Pukinjärvi is an uninhabited forest area where plants such as twinflower and starflower grow.
Pukinjärvi is acidified in terms of water chemistry, but there are still a moderate number of waterfowl and waders. The forests and built-up areas surrounding the lake have a diverse birdlife. In the Vaasa bird atlas, a total of 89 breeding bird species were observed at Pukinjärvi during 2005–2008.
Common waterfowl at Pukinjärvi include tufted ducks, mallards and teals. The black-throated diver, which favours barren waters, has also bred on the lake in several years. Waders breeding at Pukinjärvi include the wood sandpiper, common redshank, common sandpiper and ruff. On spring mornings you may also see the crane and the whooper swan on the lake. Reedbed species include the reed warbler and the reed bunting.
You can best get to know the coniferous forest species in the woods in the northern part of Pukinjärvi. Here you may see, for example, the jay, the hazel grouse or the raven. In addition to these species, the wryneck, coal tit and crested tit are also part of the fauna. Deciduous forest species are found west of Pukinjärvi. Species of the deciduous woods include the wood warbler, blackcap, long-tailed tit and chiffchaff.
The birdlife of Pukinjärvi is best seen by visitors in May–June.