IN THE WORLD OF BIRDS
They are around us at every turn. Sometimes, they are so common that we don't even notice them. They fill our daily lives with their presence and songs. They appear in culture, folk myths, and proverbs. Imagine a world without them.
Birds.
Most travellers come to Húsavík as it is the Whale Watching Capital of Iceland. In addition to an exciting boat trip, one can visit the super interesting whale museum. I know the original skeletons are simply stunning!
However, Húsavík and its surroundings offer many kilometres of coastline with beaches, cliffs, a port, the mouth of two rivers, and numerous lakes – Botnsvatn, Kaldbakstjarnir and the warm Goldfish Pond – and everywhere there… birds!
In Iceland, 330 species of birds have been observed. Of these, around 85 are nesting or regularly observed species. Some of them can be easily seen in many places in continental Europe. But others, such as the Harlequin duck, can be seen only here.
And of course, there is – or should be – the Snowy owl, whose range is not even marked in books for protection – a dream of every bird watcher.
How to start bird watching? As a guide for Gentle Giants, I feel that some people catch the birdwatching bug while sailing out with us to watch puffins on Lundey (Puffin Island). It’s hard to remain indifferent to other, equally interesting birds after seeing thousands of beautiful “little brothers of the Arctic” (meaning of the scientific name “Fratercula arctica”).
Do you need special equipment? Often, curiosity is enough to start. Observing what is around us. On our website, we list a dozen or so most common species. In the bookstore opposite the ticket center, you can buy a great bird guide – but the most important thing is to start looking around. To open your eyes! To awaken your curiosity! Or – maybe quite unusual – close your eyes for a moment and listen!
- Wit (Guide)
