On September 15, 2025, the grand opening of the first Seabird Observation Point in Poland took place in the fishing port between Krynica Morska and Piaski. This unique place, created for nature education, ornithological tourism and seabird monitoring, aroused great interest from the first day.
The point was created thanks to the extensive cooperation of many institutions and the support of donors. Budimex SA funded the construction of the facility, which is the basis of the entire investment. Budimex also supported the preparation of the technological design of the facility and the planning and implementation of transport and later the assembly of its elements. The Elbląg Forest District provided substantive and organizational support in the creation of this place. The Voivodeship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Gdańsk supported its finishing and equipment, while the City of Krynica Morska financed an educational mural decorating the building. Of particular importance was the donation from the ORLEN Foundation for Pomerania, thanks to which the Point was retrofitted and the first three-year scientific research – monitoring of migrating seabirds – was fully financed.
The event was attended by representatives of institutions, partners and the media. In the official part , Gerard Bela, President of the Drapolicz Association, gave his speeches, emphasizing: “The opening of the Maritime Point in Krynica Morska is the fulfillment of a long-standing dream of our organization. For the first time in Poland, a place entirely dedicated to seabird watching has been created – with professional equipment, available to both scientists and people taking their first steps in birdwatching. It is a joint initiative in which many entities were involved – including our long-term partner the Elbląg Forest District and Budimex SA, the ORLEN Foundation for Pomerania, the Voivodeship Environmental Protection Fund in Gdańsk and the City of Krynica Morska. Thanks to their support, we can conduct research, educate and protect nature in a way that we have only dreamed of so far. We believe that this point will become a showcase of Krynica Morska and a must-see place for all nature lovers.”
“For years, Budimex has been involved in projects that support local communities and the natural environment. During the reconstruction of Voivodeship Road 501 on the section from Stegna to Krynica Morska, Budimex also supported local initiatives, mainly in the Sztutowo commune. Funding the first Seabird Observation Point in Poland fits perfectly into our ESG mission – we believe that a responsible business is one that combines development with care for the environment. Support for the project of the Drapolicz Association was not limited to the transfer of funding – we also provided support in the design and implementation process, thanks to which the facility could be built while maintaining the highest safety and quality standards. We are glad that we can engage in similar initiatives throughout the Pomeranian Voivodeship, while simultaneously implementing key construction investments here – both infrastructural and cubature” – adds Miłosz Kulik, Contract Manager at Budimex SA.
The culminating moment was the ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony with the participation of a representative of Budimex SA, emphasizing the company’s role in the establishment of the Point. Then there was a bird watching show led by ornithologists of the Drapolicz Association.
The opening of the Drapolicz Maritime Point was an important moment not only for the Association itself, but also for the entire region. This is the second observation point run by the Drapolicz Association in Krynica Morska – next to the ornithological tower on Pirate Mountain, from where migratory birds have been counted for years. Thanks to this, Krynica Morska becomes an absolutely unique place on the scale of Polish – the only one where you can observe both spectacular flights of land birds and rare species of seabirds in one place.
A special value of the Sea Point is the possibility of conducting observations also in difficult weather conditions – during storms, when the most interesting species of seabirds, usually inaccessible from the shore, appear at the seaside.
The Drapolicz Association invites all nature lovers to visit Krynica Morska and get to know the fascinating world of birds together. Both from the ornithological tower and from the newly opened Sea Point, you can observe and learn about unique species with guides, as well as take part in educational events.
