{"id":37344,"date":"2025-04-10T20:40:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T18:40:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/niet-gecategoriseerd\/runde-bird-island-norway\/"},"modified":"2026-06-25T16:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:29:36","slug":"runde-bird-island-norway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturetravellab.com\/en\/norway\/western-norway\/runde-bird-island-norway\/","title":{"rendered":"Runde, Bird Island, Norway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Runde, Norway: A Bird Island and Research Center with a Dutch Touch <\/h1>\n\n

Runde is a bird island in western Norway, not far from the city of \u00c5lesund. You can learn a lot about nature and the ecosystem here at the research center. If I\u2019ve learned one thing, it\u2019s that the weather can change at any moment\u2014but what a variety of nature and birds there is! <\/p>\n\n

We spotted the puffins that nest there, and there\u2019s so much more to see and do at the research center. It\u2019s definitely worth a day trip (or more) if you\u2019re in the area. What\u2019s more, the island is home to a great treasure from the Netherlands. <\/p>\n\n

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Puffins in Norway on Runde<\/h2>\n\n

According to the locals, the puffins weren’t supposed to arrive in Runde until 8:00 p.m. on April 15. I was there in late March and got lucky, because quite a few had already arrived. <\/p>\n\n

Between April and August, more than 30,000 puffins come to the cliffs at Runde to breed. They do arrive at certain times of the day, so be sure to get all the information you need at the Runde Opplev visitor center .<\/a> I was there in the late afternoon and saw a lot of them flying in and settling on the cliffs. <\/p>\n\n

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Puffins<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The puffin is a monogamous bird. The father and mother care for the nest and their chick together. They stay together for practically their entire lives (about 20 years). In the winter, they live out at sea. The call from their nest sounds a bit like a siren. In the spring, they come to the cliffs on Runde to lay a single egg as a monogamous pair. If there is enough herring in the sea (which has been the case in recent years), the chick survives with sufficient food. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

Hiking to the puffins <\/h2>\n\n

To reach the cliff where the puffins nest, it\u2019s a walk of over 4 kilometers (round trip). The first section is a steep incline but is paved. The climb begins near the campground on the island. <\/p>\n\n

You\u2019ll then walk along a paved path through beautiful natural surroundings to the spot where the puffins come to nest. It\u2019s really worth the walk. The birds follow a regular pattern and arrive in the late afternoon…. <\/p>\n\n

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Hike to the lighthouse on Runde <\/h2>\n\n

A slightly longer hike, but also well worth the effort, is the one to the lighthouse on the island. It\u2019s about 8 kilometers. You start on the same trail as the one to the birds, until you take a right turn. You can also spend the night at the lighthouse. It\u2019s a special experience\u2014read more about it below. <\/p>\n\n

Birdwatching in Norway <\/h2>\n\n

The island of Runde has only 100 residents. It is part of the municipality of Her\u00f8y. There are quite a few more birds here. In addition to the puffin, you can also see gannets and white-tailed eagles here. The wheatear, great skua, and crested cormorant are also among the many bird species you can spot here. <\/p>\n\n

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\"Runde<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Runde<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Activities at the Runde Research Center: Experience Runde <\/h2>\n\n

Runde is home to a research center that collaborates with universities around the world to study life in the sea and on land. The center is funded by the Norwegian government. Among other things, it studies seaweed and water quality. Plastic in the sea is collected using fishing nets. <\/p>\n\n

Of course, you can explore the island on your own, but it\u2019s fun and educational to take part in one or more activities offered by the research and visitor center. We went out on the water along the coast. Our guide, Johannes, let us taste some seaweed and spotted the first puffins of the season. We learned about the ecosystem and the importance of all its components. The research center offers several activities: <\/p>\n\n