Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1983, Page 72

The autumn migration at Akraberg,
Faroe Islands, 1982
Dorete Bloch & Søren Sørensen
Introduction.
As early as 1949, in one year, Kenneth
Williamson and Niels á Botni compared the
bird migration on Nólsoy and Fair Isle
(Williamson & á Botni, 1951). On page 124
they write, »... and it is to be hoped that a
bird station (on the Faroe Islands) can be
founded in a few years.«
These last years have seen a growing
ornithological activity on the Faroe Islands
(Bloch 1981, Bloch & Bengtson 1983, Bloch
& Sørensen 1984, Sørensen & Skeldahl 1983).
Consequently it was obvious to follow up the
quantitative bird census of 1981 by another
preliminary study for the esíablishing of a
bird station. European experiences were the
basis that made Akraberg the choice (figure
1), as we assumed, owing to its situation
alone, the southernmost point of the country
would be a place where migrating birds
would gather.
The Danish-Faroese Cultural Foundation
kindly granted one month of observation
for one person, The Royal Danish Admini-
stration of Navigation and Hydrography
most kindly placed lighthouse quarters at
Akraberg at the experiment’s disposal. In this
connection we wish to thank Leon Heinesen,
Fig. 1. The Faroe Islands with the names of the places
mentioned in the paper.
lighthouse keeper, for his most valuable
assistance.
We want to thank all these, and especially
Fróðskaparrit 31. bók (1983): 75-93.