Bøyaøyri nature reserve
Bøyaøyri in Fjærland is a wetland area with a rich wildlife where over 100 different bird species have been observed.
The river delta
At Bøyaøyri, fresh water from the river is mixed with salt water from the fjord. Such brackish water deltas are among the most biologically highly productive areas in Norway. The wetland area was protected as a nature reserve in 1991 and covers a total of approx. 230 acres. Of this, about 94 acres are land area.
Map showing the location of the nature reserve (Directorate for Nature Management 2008).
River deltas are a highly endangered habitat type. In Norway, they constitute a small but very important area. Among other things, they are resting and feeding areas for migratory birds, and can house many distinctive plant communities. Delta areas are highly vulnerable to encroachment and change, as they are often located close to urban areas and are easy to use for various construction and commercial purposes. In many fjord arms in Western Norway, river deltas have been developed or cultivated, and their value as natural areas and as habitats for animals and plants has increasingly been lost.
At Bøyaøyri, many of the original forms, old river courses and wedges, are still intact. However, since the river itself was built up and the water was diverted away from the old delta surface, the delta is no longer active. Today, the river deposits deposits further out, which will form the basis for new delta forms in the future.
Verner rules
Of the rules that apply to the nature reserve, the following should be noted:
Aerial photo showing the delta's extent and shape. The boundary of the nature reserve is marked with a rough, dotted line (Photo: Fotonor)
All vegetation in water and on land is protected against all forms of damage and destruction. New plant species must not be introduced.
All game (including marine mammals), dens, nests and eggs are protected against all forms of damage, destruction and unreasonable disturbance. Hunting, trapping and the use of firearms are prohibited. Dogs must be kept on a leash. Release of game is illegal.
Measures that change the natural conditions are prohibited. This applies, for example, to the erection of buildings and fixed facilities, storage of boats, storage of caravans, construction of new pipelines, road construction, drainage, extraction, filling, grading and storage of mass, or weeding, emptying of bumps or the use of chemical agents.
Camping, tenting and setting up camouflage devices for photography are prohibited.
Motorized traffic on water and land, and low-level flying below 300 m is prohibited. This also applies to the use of model boats and model aircraft. The use of sailboards is prohibited.
All traffic in the reserve is prohibited from April 1 to August 1.
Bird life
Twenty.
A total of 100 bird species have been registered on Bøyaøyri. Of these, 40-50 are wholly or partly dependent on wetlands in one form or another to find food. Examples of such species are: Grey heron, ducks such as mallard, teal and brown duck, and waders such as chiffchaff, barn owl, dunlin and ruff.
Other species, such as starlings, skylarks, grey wagtails, common robin and marsh wren, are attracted to the wetland area (foraging), but breed in the surrounding area.
Bøyaøyri is particularly important for ducks and waders, primarily as a resting place during spring and autumn migration and as a wintering area. Of the duck species, mallard, teal and brown duck can be particularly numerous during spring and fall migration. In addition, species such as shelduck, black duck, long-tailed duck, crested duck, common goldeneye and the rare tufted duck are also observed. Mallard, teal and wigeon have been found breeding in the nature reserve.
Of the waders, red grouse, lapwing and redstart are the most numerous species during migration, along with species such as curlew, green wagtail, heron and snipe. Many of the waders only stay on Bøyaøyri for short periods during spring and autumn migration (resting place), but species such as tern, lapwing, redstart, sandpiper and snipe have also been found breeding.
