Some of Europe's noteworthy bird sanctuaries are on islands off the Norwegian coast or on the mainland. Rocky and isolated, the sanctuaries offer ideal nesting places for millions of seabirds that vastly outnumber the local human population during certain seasons. Foremost among the sanctuaries are the Lofoten Islands -- particularly two of the outermost islands, Vaerøy and Røst -- and the island of Runde. An almost .5km (1/4-mile) bridge (one of the longest in Norway) connects Runde to the coastline, a 2 1/2-hour drive from Ålesund. Runde's year-round human population is about 150, and the colonies of puffins, cormorants, razor-billed auks, guillemots, gulls, and eider ducks number in the millions. Another noteworthy bird sanctuary is at Fokstumyra, a national park near Dombås.
The isolated island of Lovund is a 2-hour ferry ride from the town of Sandnesjøen, south of Bødo. Lovund ("the island of puffins") has a human population of fewer than 270 and a bird population in the hundreds of thousands. You can visit Lovund and the other famous Norwegian bird-watching sites on your own, or sign up for one of the organized tours sponsored by Borton Overseas, 5412 Lyndale Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55419 (tel. 800/843-0602 or 612/882-4640; www.bortonoverseas.com).
Brochures and pamphlets are available from the tourist board Destination Lofoten (tel. 76-06-98-00; www.lofoten-tourist.no).
