Join us on a fantastic learning experience to Finnmark – the Arctic Norway! Birdwatching in the old forests of Pasvik valley, and the coastal landscapes of Varanger
June every year, as long as there are enough participants. We need at least 8 new participants and there are maximum 10 available spots. If we have less than 8 participants in a given year, the trip will be cancelled that year. The Arctic Norway field course lasts for 6 days.
Total cost for the entire trip – excluding flights and food – is approx. 3900 NOK. The amount is paid in advance, and includes accommodation (2-3 persons of same gender per room), rental car and boat trip out to Hornøya. You pay for flights and all meals yourself. If you want a single room, you pay a few hundred NOK extra. We will stop at food stores along the way, and will have the opportunity to both cook at the accommodations and eat out for those who wish. Prices will increase slightly each year. Teachers are paid by Nord University.
The field course is open to all nationalities, and we only require that you have passed both exams in Western Palearctic Birds before you can join (BID2001 and BID2002). You apply at www.birdid.no My Page.
Admission is based on the time of application, and takes place in the period October - December in the year before the trip. This means that the earlier you apply, the greater your chance of getting a place in the year you apply. During the admissino period, you will receive an offer letter by email where you must answer YES or NO to the spot. Due to waiting lists and that some people decline their spot, there will be several rounds of admission throughout the winter, until we have filled all the places on the course. If you do not get a spot, you will automatically be offered a spot the following year. It is also possible to postpone the application and keep your place in the application list for one year.
After you have been allocated a spot and accepted, you will receive an invoice from us where you pay costs that cover the expenses mentioned above. All information will then be sent out via email.
We start and end the trip in Kirkenes. We first drive south through the 100 km long Pasvik valley, where the Norwegian, Finnish and Russian borders meat. Pasvik has vast areas of marshland and virgin forests, and we look for various species here before we return north towards Varangerbotn, spectacular Ekkerøy and Hornøya. We will see lots of seabirds and mountain species, and we will visit many localities on the way. Experienced guides and teachers are joining us to give you the bests knowledge about the birds we find in this area. We search for species like Pine grosbeak, spotted redshank, lapland longspur, arctic warbler, shorelark, king eider, phalaropes, and many others. Are we also lucky enough to spot the rare snowy owl?
The temperature in Finnmark varies between 5-25 oC. We move both in deep forests and on bare mountains, so the temperature can vary a lot with the weather and wind. Bring clothes for all kinds of weather! The accommodations are of a good standard, and you do not need to bring a sleeping bag.
Time zone is GMT + 1. We are far to the north, and there will be daylight all day and night long. If you are not used to this, it could be wise to bring a sleeping mask. Crime is not pronounced, but we still remove valuables from the cars. Remember to bring a telescope, binoculars, camera, bird book, notebook, mosquito repellent and sunscreen. You are not insured through Nord University, so you must have your own travel insurance that covers you and your equipment. Remember your passport, visa is not necessary.