Observing birds in their natural habitat is a genuine pleasure, considering their significant role in both nature and human life. Birds serve as our reliable and loyal companions, deserving of our understanding and appreciation. Knowledge about birds not only enriches our understanding of the natural world but also enhances the beauty and completeness of our lives. While birds are resilient to cold weather, especially the young ones, they face the risk of perishing due to winter food scarcity. In the brief daylight hours of winter, birds struggle to gather sufficient food to endure the long, chilly nights, as the heat in their bodies is generated from the food they consume.
The winter season doesn’t hinder the observation of birds, and the 7th-grade students at Turya-Remetivskyi Secondary School engage in constant bird watching and feeding right from their classroom window. As the cold weather set in, the students noticed birds frequently flying to the window, prompting them to place food on the windowsill. Orysia Krechko, a biology teacher, proposed keeping a phone with the camera on throughout class to track the constancy of visiting birds. The students recognized a frequent visitor, a bird they called Shusha. It was discovered that Shusha visits daily, sometimes perching on the windowsill, observing the students attentively during class. During a subsequent brief excursion to the arboretum near the school, the students thoughtfully filled tree feeders with treats for Shusha’s other feathered friends.
It’s crucial to recognize that every bird that withstands the winter becomes a devoted ally in clearing forests, fields, vegetable gardens, and orchards of pests. Their arrival in spring, marked by melodious singing, fills landscapes with breathtaking beauty. Let’s extend our support to these remarkable creatures and help them thrive!
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
