How do you develop bird watching tourism in a country with only 74 breeding species? Well if you are Icelandic, you highlight the unexpected bird visitors who come each year. Iceland is located at the intersection of the North American and European tectonic plates and boasts bird species native to each continent. As well, unexpected migrants ‘drop by’ Iceland enroute to their usual nesting grounds. Perhaps the birds are only slightly off course but the end result is that over 372 different species have been observed in Iceland! For bird watchers who enjoy the thrill of unexpected discoveries this is a great place to be. Add in the 24 hour daylight in May and June and you have a birder’s extravaganza.

Hrafn Svavarsson, founder of Gavia Travel, saw the need for a tour company to help birders get the most out of their time in Iceland. “When Gavia Travel was founded by a couple of Icelandic birders, the aim was to start a full-time bird watching travel agency, which was to be the first of its kind in Iceland. We are still birders by heart, and if there is something we do better than anyone, it is to organize how, where and when to watch birds in Iceland!”

Hrafn is succeeding. Gavia Travel’s customers say they love birding in Iceland and want visit again. Hopefully there will be even more treasure hunters discovering the benefits of birding in Iceland.

For more information visit Birding Iceland at http://www.hi.is/%7Eyannk/varia.html or Gavia Travel at www.gaviatravel.com. You can see more about this area of Iceland by viewing my video at www.youtube.com/watch

Carol Patterson