Bird hides 1–5 located around the osprey pond are available to the photographer who made the reservation and their fellow photographers. The photography sites of High Tower (6) and Public Osprey Tower (7) are located about 40 metres away from the osprey pond and they are reserved separately. The photography sites are reserved through the Finnish Osprey Foundation website (https://www.saaksisaatio.fi/en/foundation). The same applies to the Wetland Tower photography sites and the Osprey Foundation accommodation. You can call Jouko Alhainen (+358 (0)40 528 3030) who manages the photography arrangements to enquire about possible additional photography sites.
PRICE LIST
1. Bird Hide prices:
8 April–15 June €55/photographer/day
16 June–31 July €75
1 August–19 September €150
2. Hight Tower prices:
8 April–15 June €25/photographer/day
16 June–31 July €40
1 August–19 September €75
3. Wetland Tower photography sites
€35/photographer/day
4. Public Osprey Tower photography sites (reservations through the cafeteria)
€15/photographer/day
If the group includes several photographers, each photographer is charged the fee separately. All photographers are classified as hobbyists.
5. Accommodation prices
Accommodation is €70/person/day, but if two people stay in the same room, the price is €50/person
The fee for the photography site is paid online to the bank account of the Finnish Osprey Foundation after the photography date. Finnish Osprey Foundation (Sääksisäätiö) FI 285680 2720 030412 with the site reference: Bird Hides/Hight Tower/Public Osprey Tower/Wetland Tower/
Accommodation. The fee can also be paid at the Osprey Centre cafeteria during opening hours. If you have questions about the services, call Jouko Alhainen (Taigabird Oy) at the number +358 (0)40 528 3030.
Hide day starts on arrival at 17:30 and ends on the departure date at 17:00.
The keys for bird hides must be picked up before 17:30 on the evening of the arrival day, even if one does not plan to go to the bird hides until the next morning. The keys must be returned before 17:00 on the departure day. Bird hides must be left in a tidy condition for the next photographer.
Accommodation is €70/person/day, but if two people stay in the same room, the price is €50/person
The fee for the photography site is paid online to the bank account of the Finnish Osprey Foundation after the photography date. Finnish Osprey Foundation (Sääksisäätiö) FI 285680 2720 030412 with the site reference: Bird Hides/Hight Tower/Public Osprey Tower/Wetland Tower/
Accommodation. The fee can also be paid at the Osprey Centre cafeteria during opening hours. If you have questions about the services, call Jouko Alhainen (Taigabird Oy) at the number +358 (0)40 528 3030.
If you need to cancel your photography trip for some reason, please inform us as soon as possible by cancelling your reservation through the booking system. There is a link in your booking confirmation to your original booking and you can cancel the booking from there. Cancellation should be done a week (7 days) prior to the booked date. If the cancellation is done too late, we have to charge 50% of the prize. If the cancellation is not done at all, we have to charge the full prize
In order to get your keys for hides and accomodation, stop at the Cafeteria of the Osprey Center (during the summer season generally open 11AM - 9PM), where you will check in and pay your stay. After your photographing session and/or stay, the keys should be returned to the Osprey Center.
1. The photography sites of Pohtiolampi open on 6 April 2024 when we can expect to see the first ospreys of the spring. Once you have made your reservation, you will be sent an email concerning the keys to the photography sites and accommodation (pohtiolampi@gmail.com). The instructions can even be given by phone, if necessary. From 30 March to 8 June, the Osprey Centre is only
open at the weekends from 11.00 to 18.00 and also on weekdays from 9 June to 15 September. During those times you can visit the sites and access their services.
2. When you arrive at the Santalahdentie gate in Pohtiolampi, follow the instructions given to you. Drive through the gate, then close the gate. Park your car in the car park and follow the signs to get to the photography sites.
3. Be fast when climbing to the photography sites so that you disturb the ospreys and other photographers as little as possible. If see an osprey fishing, wait until it has caught a fish. Do not spend time outside the hides.
4. You can place your camera on the shooting shelf on top of a sand bag or on a tripod (you need to have your own ball head, swing head, geared head or video head).
5. Remember not to push the objective too far outside the cover net. A fishing osprey can spot even the smallest camera and photographer’s movements and you have lost your shot. Let’s give the ospreys the opportunity to fish in peace.
6. Clean up after yourself and lock the hide door when you leave. Remember to return the keys in the envelope you received into the box after closing the gate.
7. Taking photos of a fishing osprey is challenging and requires patience. Welcome again to photograph the ospreys of Pohtiolampi.
