Photo: Eider duck nest

In Spákonufellshöfði in Skagaströnd, Skagaströnd Municipality and the Natural Research Centre of North-western Iceland are studying the effect of bird watching on the birdlife in the area.

The Natural Research Centre of North-western Iceland will publish a report with results from the preliminary studies in Spákonufellshöfði (done summer 2009) in February 2010.. According to these studies 32 bird species were seen in Spákonufellshöfði during the study period. Breeding was confirmed with seven of them. Eiders were found lying on eggs in June and with chicks later in the summer. Fulmar and raven had chicks in nests and oystercatcher, meadow pipit, wheatear and redwing showed territory behaviour or were seen carrying food.

According to locals the number of eiders nesting in the area has decreased. Why the number has decreased is not known but we suspect that the hiking trail might be to close to the nesting areas. Further studies will clear that out. Studies will continue in the summer 2010 and 2011.