RESPECT NATURE
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When walking in nature, it’s essential to respect the environment and consider the well-being of the wildlife that calls it home. Birds, in particular, are sensitive to human presence, and our actions can impact their safety and habitats. By following a few simple guidelines, you can help protect them while still enjoying their beauty.
BIRDWATCHING GUIDELINES
- If birds give warning calls or keep flying over your head – sometimes even diving towards your head – you are close to the bird’s nest. Do not try to find the nest or the young. As long as you are close to the birds, the parents are stressed, and they have less time to search for food or keep their eggs warm. So leave the area immediately or observe the birds from a safe distance.
- Leave the chicks alone if you see chicks away from any apparent nests and with no adult birds around. It is usual for chicks to leave the nest and walk around. Do not touch the chicks; leave the area so the parents can provide food, etc. An exception to this rule is puffin chicks that have tried to fly towards the ocean but have landed in streams or other places. If possible, you can try to help these birds reach the sea.
- Keep your voice down when travelling in nature.
- Do not leave rubbish behind; it is customary to pick up loose wool that the sheep have shed to prevent it from tangling around birds' feet, which can have fatal consequences, especially for the oystercatcher.
- Never sail closer than 200 metres from sea cliffs during the seabirds’ breeding season (1 May to 1 September).
Many birdwatchers visit Mykines when visiting the Faroe Islands; please read the guidelines for visiting Mykines here.
