Kittiwake hotel plans in Vardø

Vardø 7. april 2022.

Through the project “Fuglan veit”, we are in the process of planning a kittiwake hotel in Vardø.

Vardø and Varanger have long been internationally known as the world's best Arctic bird destination. The region is easily accessible to an international audience and the area is home to large populations of globally rare species.

The region's unique bird life is closely linked to the rich sea areas. Unfortunately, many seabirds are endangered and their populations are declining at an alarming rate. This is due to everything from food shortages to global warming. The reasons are many and complex. Kittiwakes appear to be both common and numerous in Vardø, and in recent years they have moved into the harbor in Vardø on a large scale. The kittiwakes are also fishermen and inside the harbor they find shelter and security for the dangers out at sea. Sea eagles, ravens and other birds of prey pose a threat to the birds, but inside Vardø harbor they can be left alone. The sound of the kittiwake is a sure sign of spring, and they are fortunately well received by most people. For the city's visiting tourists, the kittiwakes are somewhat exotic and exciting, and the birds at the Pomor Museum are probably the most photographed birds in Finnmark!

We will investigate the possibility of helping the kittiwakes during the breeding period by building new kittiwake hotels. Several coastal towns are experiencing kittiwakes moving into towns and ports. Without good facilitation and planned facilities, this can present problems. In some places, this has already created debate and conflict, such as in Tromsø. (Link to Norwegian article)

The project team is now starting to develop hotel plans, in a suitable design at suitable locations. In may, a separate project team will start planning the kittiwakes hotel. Vardø municipality, Vardø Chamber of Commerce, Varanger museum dept. Vardø, Biotope Nature and Architecture, UIT and NINA collaborate in the project.

Hopefully, Vardø can become a pioneer city that shows how one can both take care of endangered species, create tourism attractions from this, and avoid conflict.

Below you see the kittiwake wall on Hornøya in 2013, kittiwakes on the wall at Vardø museum / Brodtkorbsjåen, all 3 photos by Tormod Amundsen/Biotope and the entrance to Vardø harbor, photo by Eik Kristensen/Varanger Photo

Text by Tormod Amundsen, Gry-Anita Kristiansen, Maria Bertheussen and Bente Sundsvoll (project manager)