Uzhhorod Castle Park is a year-round attraction for visitors. Uzhhorod Castle Park is open all year. It is located in the center of the city and provides a calm haven to escape the anxiety of the war, recharge amidst centuries-old trees, and listen to the soothing sounds of birds. In the autumn, the park comes alive with hardworking nuthatches accumulating food for the coming winter. These industrious birds display a remarkable concern not only for their own well-being but also for other species. Squirrels and great titі profit from their efforts, and occasionally, jays, European greenfinches, and other small birds visit to feast on tree seeds.
The experts from the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe, along with researchers from the Transcarpathian Regional Museum of Local Lore, had the privilege of imparting this knowledge to second-grade students from Uzhhorod Lyceum “Leader.” The students, accompanied by their parents and their educator, Mrs. Melnik, dug into the autumnal concerns of the park’s avian residents. They explored the park’s “summer residents,” such as swallows, common starlings, common swifts, and black redstarts, as well as the species that stay during the winter, such as great tits and Eurasian nuthatches. The children also brought gifts for the birds, placing them under the trees in a heartfelt gesture.
Ruslana Dzhahman, a senior researcher at the Department of Local History’s Nature Branch, delivered an educational presentation to the youngsters, followed by an engaging game developed by the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies to teach them about Ukraine’s migratory and wintering birds. During bird-watching classes on the castle grounds, they put their newfound knowledge to the test. Mykhailo Bilanych demonstrated the correct use of binoculars to the students, emphasizing the fundamental principle of birdwatching: observe birds without disturbing them. When the children had the binoculars in hand, they engaged in a friendly competition to spot a bird first. The students had a delightful and informative time, and to conclude the event, the researchers guided them on a themed tour of the “Nature of Transcarpathia” exhibition, showcasing the region’s unique birdlife.
The event was held within the framework of cooperation between the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) headed by Olexander Bokotey) and the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU Bundesverband, NABU International), project coordinators Ivan Tymofeiev (NABU), and Nataliya Kulya (IRCEF).
Informational Service of IRCEF
