It provides an excellent observation point from which visitors can enjoy the world of birds and their migratory journeys.

It is located in the heart of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve in Vizcaya, Basque Country (Spain) The center opened its doors to the public in 2012 and works in the areas of scientific research and dissemination.

The center is located in the heart of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, a protected natural area that includes one of the most important marshes on the Cantabrian coast.

It is home to a wide range of different ecosystems and landscapes such as grasslands, Cantabrian holm oak woods, Atlantic countryside, riverbanks, marshes, cliffs, beaches and dunes.

It is this mosaic of landscapes that make Urdaibai the area with the highest level of biodiversity in the Basque Country.

Scientisits identified areas of special interest for their ornithological wealth or for their general biodiversity in the upper marsh.

As a result, they started a more comprehensive monitoring programme of one of the most important ornithological phenomena in Urdaibai: the migration of birds.

Until just a few years ago, the area now occupied by the Orueta wetland was very run down and the fact that it had become almost disconnected from the influence of the tides had led to the invasion of exotic species.

Today, total recovery of halophyte vegetation has been achieved in the abandoned area which was being invaded by alien species.

In the hallway a large backlit map locates the center on the Eastern Atlantic Flyway and also illustrates the connection between Urdaibai and wetlands of importance in Europe and Africa.

In addition to this, there is a space for temporary exhibitions and an audiovisual module that explains the habitats and birds of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and also the current ornithological state of the marsh.

Visitors can also enjoy a replica of Euskalmet's Meteorological Radar, Kapildui.The building also provides a number of other useful spaces: There is also an ornithological route in the form of a circuit.

To increase the knowledge of birds and their habitats in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve research projects are carried out in the following areas.

Different projects have been developed taking these basic areas into account: Urdaibai Bird Center aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and the impact of human beings and their activities on nature.

Activities are organized for people interested in getting to know more about the world of ornithology whether it be scientific ringing, meteorology or the biodiversity of the area.

These visits aim to promote a sense of respect for nature, and also to bring the work of the scientific community to the attention of the public.

Urdaibai Bird Center has developed environmental education programmes for children in a number of schools.

The eradication of invasive alien species such ''Baccharis halimifolia'' is one of the main tasks which is carried out as is the management of vegetation to ensure maximum diversity.

The Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve has one of the highest rates of biodiversity in the Basque Country and the same is true in terms of avifauna.

Every year these barriers force thousands of birds to cross this area on the migratory journeys between Europe and Africa.

The tranquility of the area and the availability of food, in particular the abundance of fish and small invertebrates, are a great attraction for waterfowl.

This network of European wetlands makes up a tourist route and all of the participating organizations have two elements in common: Urdaibai Bird Center.