Flatey Island & Birds

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT FLATEY ISLAND

Flatey seen from air. Photo © Mats, www.mats.is

FLATEY is an island situated in Skjálfandi Bay, only 14,7 nautical miles NW from Húsavík. The island is about 2,5 km long and 1,7 km wide. The name means “Flat Island” and for a reason; its highest peak rises only about 22 m above sea level.

The island was settled early in historic times and the number of inhabitants increased during the first decades of the 20th century. In 1942, Flatey reached its peak population of 120 people.

The inhabitants of Flatey mostly earned their living on fishing. The fishing grounds around the island are extremely good and rich in species such as cod and lumpfish. Flatey is fertile and well vegetated and therefore the islanders also practiced agriculture, mostly for their own needs. Each home kept a cow, a few sheep and hens.

Harbour entrance to Flatey.

OLD & RENOWATED HOUSES IN FLATEY ISLAND

Several structures have been built on Flatey:
A schoolhouse was built in 1929.
The first lighthouse was built in 1913 and rebuilt in 1963.
A church was built in the early years but was shut down in 1884. In 1960 a new church was consecrated.
A radio telegraph was put up in 1931.

The church.

The old schoolhouse.

The lighthouse.

A view from the harbour.

The community on the island was very active when the population was at its most. However, it was difficult for Flatey to compete with other communities that grew faster once electricity and hot water became available in homes. People started leaving the island and moving to places as Húsavík and in 1967 the last inhabitants left.

It has not been permanently inhabited since but many people visit the island each summer. Most of the old homes are kept and maintained as summerhouses.

BIRDS IN FLATEY

List of Flatey Birds:

	*Icelandic – Latin* – English – German**
	Lundi– Fratercula arctica – Atlantic Puffin – Papageitaucher
	Æðarfugl – Somateria mollissima – Common Eider – Eiderente
	Kría – Sterna paradisaea – Arctic Tern – Küstenseeschwalbe
	Teista – Cepphus grylle – Black Guillemot – Gryllteiste
	Dílaskarfur – Phalacrocorax carbo - Cormorant – Kormoran
	Fýll – Fulmarus glacialis – Fulmar – Eissturmvogel
	Rita - Rissa tridactyla – Kittiwake – Dreizehenmöwe
	Sendlingur – Calidris maritima – Purple Sandpiper – Meerstrandläufer
	Hrossagaukur – Gallinago gallinago – Common Snipe – Bekassine
	Óðinshani - Phalaropus lobatus – Red-necked Phalarope – Odinshühnchen
	Jaðrakan – Limosa limosa – Black-tailed Godwit – Uferschnepfe
	Spói – Numenius phaeopus – Whimbrel – Regenbrachvogel
	Stelkur – Tringa totanus – Redshank – Rotschenkel
	Sandlóa – Charadrius hiaticula – Ringed Plover – Sandregenpfeifer
	Tjaldur – Haematopus ostralegus – Oystercatcher – Austernfischer
	Heiðlóa – Pluvialis apricaria – Golden Plover – Goldregenpfeifer
	Lóuþræll – Calidris alpina – Dunlin – Alpenstrandläufer
	Tildra – Arenaria interpres – Turnstone – Steinwälzer
	Stokkönd – Anas platyrhynchos – Mallard – Stockente
	Rauðhöfðaönd – Anas penelope – Wigeon – Pfeifente
	Toppönd – Mergus serrator – Red-breasted Merganser - Mittelsäger
	Urtönd – Anas crecca – Teal – Krickente
	Duggönd – Aythya marila – Scaup – Bergente
	Grágæs – Anser anser – Greylag Goose – Graugans
	Rjúpa – Lagopus mutus – Ptarmigan – Alpenschneehuhn
	Skógarþröstur – Turdus iliacus – Redwing – Rotdrossel
	Þúfutittlingur – Anthus pratensis – Meadow Pipit – Wiesenpieper
	Maríuerla – Motacilla alba – White Wagtail – Bachstelze
	Steindepill – Oenanthe oenanthe – Northern Wheatear – Steinschmätzer
	Hettumáfur – Larus ridibundus – Black-headed Gull – Lachmöwe
	Svartbakur – Larus marinus – Great Black-backed Gull – Mantelmöwe
	Sílamáfur – Larus fuscus – Lesser Black-backed Gull – Heringsmöwe
	Hávella – Clangula hyemalis – Long-tailed Duck – Eisente
	Álft – Cygnus cygnus – Whooper Swan – Singschwan
	Hrafn – Corcus corax – Common Raven – Kolkrabe
	Fálki – Falco rusticolus – Gyrfalcon – Gerfalke