Fågeltorn Backgården

Backgården is a collective name for an older agricultural and wetland landscape adjacent to Brandboviken, which is part of Lake Stora Aspen and Kolbäcksån, a few kilometers southeast of Fagersta. The area consists of arable land, fields and marshes. The Åvestbo stream meanders through the fields and flows into the bay, where high water flows create an over-silted marshland. Restoration work is underway at Backgården to create more favorable conditions for both resting and nesting birds. A bird tower has been built on the site. Government grants for local nature conservation projects are co-financing the implementation of this project.

A visit is also recommended during the fall migration (from mid-August to November). In addition to the above-mentioned species, there is also the chance of seeing, for example, red-throated pipit, blue jay, barnacle goose and snipe. Golden eagles and white-tailed eagles sometimes circle above the mountain in the south.

The backyard is sometimes a place of surprises as a lot of unexpected birds can appear. Over the years, 216 species have been observed on the site and among the highlights can be mentioned coastal guillemot, brown thrasher, red thrasher, gyrfalcon, lesser whooper swan, barnacle goose, egret, blackbird, long-tailed godwit, white-backed woodpecker, oystercatcher, little gull, tern, oystercatcher, red-breasted merganser, white-tailed sparrow, small-spotted marsh harrier, and marsh and river warbler.

Species that nest in the area or forage near or in the lake are little auk, yellowhammer, Eurasian guillemot, little grebe, osprey, curlew, tern and some cormorants.