Instructions for bird hide and accommodation renters

1. Available hides & the number of photographers in hides at the same time

There are altogether six (6) bird hides for rent at Pohtiolampi. All hides are always rented to one photographer at a time. The photographer may however be accompanied by 1-2 his or her photographer friends.

The maximum size for the group of photographers in the hides is three (3) people. This is to minimize the disturbance to the ospreys. An exception can be made only in the case of a visitor group, such as a photography association or society. In that case, the arrangements must always be negotiated beforehand with the representatives of Pohtiolampi Osprey Center. However, it is advisable that the reserver takes at least one photographer friend with him/her. In this way the "rest and guard shifts" can be arranged in an appropriate manner.

2. Booking calendar, reservation of bird hides and rooms

Get acquainted with our reservation calendar on the Hide reservations subpage and check the free dates. Read carefully the Instructions for bird hide photographers.

If you are also interested in booking a room, please read Instructions for the accommodation users.

You can reserve the bird hides (and accommodation) only by filling and submitting the form on the Hide reservations page. When the Osprey Foundation has received your reservation, it will be confirmed by a reply e-mail that, for the avoidance of duplicate reservations, you must still further confirm via e-mail. You are instructed to accept the suitability of the reserved date without any delay by replying to the sender or to: piilokojut@saaksisaatio.fi.

3. Rental Prices for Bird Hides and Accommodation

3.1 Bird Hide prices for 7.4. - 15.6.2012

• Professional or foreign photographers: 140 € / person / hide day
• Finnish amateur photographers: 35 € / person / hide day
• If there are several photographers in the group, the fee will be charged from all group members.

3.2 Bird Hide prices for 16.6. - 31.7.2012

• Professional or foreign photographers: 140 € / person / hide day
• Finnish amateur photographers: 70 € / person / hide day
• If there are several photographers in the group, the fee will be charged from all group members.

3.2 Bird Hide prices for 1.8. - 12.9.2012

• Professional or foreign photographers: 140 € / person / hide day
• Finnish amateur photographers: 140 € / person / hide day
• If there are several photographers in the group, the fee will be charged from all group members.

3.3 Prices for Accommodation

• Price is 70 € / person / day ( = same as hide day) if only one person/apartment
• Price is 50 € / person / day ( = same as hide day) if two persons/apartment

4. Hide day

A hide day is a calendar day that starts at 18:00 in the evening preceding the (first) official rental day and ends at 17:30 on the (last) official rental day.

The keys for bird hides must be picked up before 18:00 on the evening preceding the (first) official rental day, even if one does not plan to go to the bird hides until the morning.

The keys must be returned before 17:30 on the (last) official rental day. Bird hides must be left in a neat condition for the next photographer (trash picked up and floors swept).

5. Trip arrangements, lodging

The Osprey Foundation is not a travel agency, and, furthermore, not a trip organizer. For that reason the photographer has to take care of the arrangements of his photography trip himself.

For photographers from far away there are two separate apartments with a bedroom (with two beds), a small kitchenette, toilet and shower facilities. These apartments can thus accommodate a total of four (4) people. You can book a room by filling the form on the Hide reservation page. Osprey Foundation will send your accommodation reservation to Taigabird Ltd. For the details of accommodation, please send your inquiry to the tourist agency of the target (Taigabird Ltd): jouko.alhainen@pp.inet.fi, Fax: +358 3 4377 465.

6. Cancelling the bird hide booking

If your photography trip is cancelled for some reason, please notify us at your earliest convenience by sending an email to  piilokojut@saaksisaatio.fi or by calling tel. +358 400 499 395 (Osprey Foundation) or +358 40 528 3030 (Pohtiolampi Osprey Center).

7. Bird hide and accommodation keys, payment

You will receive the keys of the hides (and accommodation) in return for your signature from the Main Building of the Osprey Center (principally open in the summer season from 11:00 to 19:00, tel. +358 40 528 3030). The rental payment is also carried out when receiving the keys. After the photography session, the keys should be returned to the Osprey Center. Detailed Instructions for bird hide photographers are here and for the users of the accommodation here.

8. Photography windows at the public watchtower

There are 6 photography windows available at the public watchtower. You can reserve the photography window only when you are at Pohtiolampi. If you have any enquiries about this photographing opportunity you may contact us at +358 40 528 3030.

Please note that using the watchtower’s photography windows is not included in the bird hide rental fee. The photography windows must be separately reserved.

Rental Prices for photography windows at the public watctower in 2012:

• Price for   7.4. –  15.6.2012:   10 euro/spot/day
• Price for 16.6. –  31.7.2012:    20 euro/spot/day
• Price for   1.8. –  12.9.2012:    40 euro/spot/day

Instructions for photographers at the public watchtower are here.