Naturum Tåkern (Tåkern visitor centre)
Region
Europe
Country
Sweden
Flyway
East Atlantic flyway
Initiative
Migratory Birds for People
About
County administrative Board of Östergötland, Sweden
Funding support: County administrative Board of Östergötland, Sweden
Number of staff: Wintertime 2, Summertime 7
Number of visitors per year: 80,000 at the visitor centre (more in the entire reserve)
Overall aims of the centre
Lake Tåkern is a nature reserve. The aim of the activities is to allow visitors to experience Tåkerns rich flora and fauna, particularly bird life, to thus obtain an understanding of the nature conservation.
Description of the centre
Tåkern is a shallow lake, which lies in the middle of the plains in the county Östergötland, Sweden. The lake has a very rich flora and fauna, specially in birds, which has made the lake famous.
Examples of breeding species are Great crested grebe (140 pairs), Bittern (50 pairs)
Mute swan (100 pairs), Marsh Harrier (50 pairs), Black headed gull (2500 pairs)
Common tern (135 pairs), Black Tern (20 pairs) Savis warbler (10 pairs), Great reed warbler (220 pairs) and thousands of Reed warblers and Bearded tits. In autumn many birds rests in the lake; Bean goose (6000), Greylag goose (16 500), Gadwall (2700), Tufted duck (3 300), Goldeneye (2 000), Goosander (1 660), Mute Swan (3 300) and Wigeon (4 700). All figures from 2009.
In the Tåkern nature reserve there is a Visitor Centre called Naturum Tåkern. It opened in 2012 and has had 80,000 visitors annually. The centre hosts an inspiring exhibition for all ages and arranges activities showing both birds and insects to all ages.
In the surroundings there is a large bird watching tower, shorter and longer trails, a special saga-trail for children and several fireplaces and tables for taking lunch breaks.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work areas
Production of exhibitions, guided tours and production of information material
Top three successes
We have adapted the bird-watching tower and the trails for disabled.
Along the trail we conduct guided tours every Saturday and Sunday from April to October.
In the winter we arrange “eagle-days”. At most, it has been observed 29 sea eagles in the nature-reserve.
Top three challenges
The biggest challenge right now is to build a new Visitor Centre, with a good exhibition that appeals to the visitors
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Creating signage; site information; Producing written materials; Using audio-visual tools; Developing nature trails
Visitor centres
Setting up a new visitor centre; Managing / creating habitat; Running a visitor centre; Building / maintaining structures
Participation
Working with disabled people; Engaging hard-to-reach groups
General
Auditing / assessing effectiveness; PR and marketing; Health and safety; Fund-raising;
Contact
Ellen Hultman,
Lansstyrelsen Ostergötland,
581 86 Linkoping.
ellen.hultman@lansstyrelsen.se.
+461319635
www.naturumtakern.se
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