Bird sanctuary

The bird sanctuary is Heinola’s most popular visitor attraction.  Eight different birdhouses and the Harjulampi pond combine to form the best bird paradise you can find in Finland.  In the outdoor areas, you can see over 500 tropical and native birds in the summertime.

The sanctuaries are home to, for instance, large talking parrots, cockatoos, lories, African grey parrots, Amazonian parrots, peacocks and different types of fancy chickens.  The domestic species are all birds that have been brought in for treatment and cannot go back into the wild yet, because of their injuries. 
 
The Heinola bird sanctuary is Finland’s oldest care centre for injured native birds, and birds are brought here from all over Finland.  Nearly every type of bird of ###prey native to Finland can be found here. Displays of nature pictures are shown in the sanctuary’s exhibition space all year round, with the displays changing according to the season. The Winter Garden is the birdhouse for the tropical birds, where you can come and visit our feathered friends all year.

The Heinola bird sanctuary received the WWF’s Panda Award in 2003, with a prize of 15,000 euros.  The award was used to improve and impart information about nature to various youth groups, day-care centres, students and school groups.

The bird sanctuary’s budget comes from the city of Heinola, but the sanctuary is always seeking additional support from those interested in nature conservation.  With the help of these sponsors, we plan to continue to develop the bird sanctuary.