Tautra conservation area

Bird life on Tautra draws bird lovers to the island, and at Måsdammen lake in the south there is a tower for birdwatchers. Tautra is a "hotspot" in Trøndelag for wildlife, with many different species of birds, vascular plants, mosses, fungi and butterflies.

Tautra with the Svaet Nature Reserve and bird sanctuary was established in 2003. The entire conservation area covers an area of approx. 16.5 km2, of which approx. 1.8 km2 is land area. The purpose of the conservation is to preserve an important wetland area that is rich in species with vegetation, birds and other wildlife.

The purpose of the conservation is to preserve an important species-rich wetland area with vegetation, bird life and other wildlife naturally associated with the area

Bird life on Tautra draws bird lovers to the island, and at Måsdammen lake in the south there is a lookout tower for birdwatchers. Tautra is a "hotspot" in Trøndelag with many different species of birds, vascular plants, mosses, fungi and butterflies.

There is a rich flora with special species such as Norwegian thyme and ladybug, and also many species of mushrooms, mosses and butterflies.

The island is also an important nesting site for waterfowl, especially eiders (NT), black-headed gulls (VU) and herring gulls (NT).

Svaet is the shallow sea area between the island and the mainland,

here large mudflats are exposed at low tide and then mud with mollusks, such as worms and snails, which are a very important source of food for birds.
a resting place for ducks and waders during migration, and then thousands of birds can gather at the same time and graze in the mudflats.
eiders and sea squirrels use Svaet as a moulting area, while their flight feathers are shed in midsummer. A wide number of birds winter in the area, mostly diving ducks, but also divers, divers, cormorants, mallards, white-tailed eagles and auks.
The large breeding population of eider ducks, declined dramatically after the construction of a breakwater that connected the island to the mainland. The tidal current in Svaet stopped and the breakwater made it possible for predators to cross to the island. This had very negative effects on bird populations.
In 2003, the breakwater was partially opened so that the power could be restored somewhat, and a gate was built to prevent predators from coming ashore.