The female eider takes her ducklings to the sea as soon as they hatch to search for food among the seaweed. Photo Cyril Ruoso.
Learn how you can show consideration for vulnerable birdlife in Vegaøyan, especially during nesting and moulting seasons, and help protect the seabirds in the World Heritage Area.
The female eider takes her ducklings to the sea as soon as they hatch to search for food among the seaweed. Photo Cyril Ruoso.
Thanks to the importance Vegaøyan and the wetlands on Vega have for various bird species, Vega is listed on Birdlife Internationals list of the most important bird areas in Europe (IBA). This gives us a great responsibility to care for the birds that use the area, and we are grateful for all visitors who help us with this when they are out at sea.
Information on areas particularly vulnerable for birdlife at sea is presented in this map. The nesting season for birds is from April 15th to July 31st, and visitors in their own boats are asked to show special consideration and maintain low speed near shore and in the sounds between the islands. The molting season (blue area on the map) is the time of year when greylag geese and waterfowl gather at sea to shed old feathers. During this time, they cannot fly. In our areas, this period is from late June/early July to September. During these times, those travelling by sea must show extra consideration for the already hard-pressed seabirds that have chosen our area to complete this year's nesting and molting. Regardless of where you are in a boat, you should pay special attention to seabirds with young and moulting birds that cannot fly.
