Winter troubles of birds: How can we help our feathered friends?


While birds often capture our attention with their beauty and enchanting songs during the summer months, their presence tends to go unnoticed in the colder seasons. There’s a common misconception that Ukraine has a sparse population of birds in winter, but this intriguing topic was thoroughly explored by students from Uzhhorod Gymnasium No. 13 during an eco-educational class focused on preserving the birdlife of our country. Ruslana Dzhahman, an expert at the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe, led the session, demonstrating her own interactive presentation adorned with vivid images. The students were treated to a detailed exploration of the primary bird species that inhabit Ukraine during winter, shedding light on the migratory patterns of some birds seeking warmth and sustenance in our country during the colder months.

The list of common wintering birds in Ukraine included the great tit, Eurasian nuthatches, European goldfinch, chaffinches, swans, mallards, sparrows, and more. Mrs. Ruslana explained that these birds face heightened challenges in winter when food becomes less readily available, underscoring the importance of providing them with suitable nourishment. The students received practical recommendations on how to feed each bird species responsibly. Every time Dzhahman introduced a particular bird, she emphasized the strict prohibition of offering bread or fried and salted seeds, cautioning that such foods, though enticing to birds, could prove fatal.

The hands-on portion of the class unfolded in two stages. Initially, the children crafted New Year’s decorations from paper in the shape of birds, intending to adorn their homes on the eve of the holidays. Following that, they ventured outdoors to fill the feeders with delectable treats for the birds. The students joyfully poured raw sunflower seeds into the feeders, envisioning the imminent delight of their feathered friends.

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 BundesverbandNABU International), project coordinators  Ivan Tymofeiev (NABU), and Nataliya Kulya (IRCEF).

Informational Service of IRCEF

Share:

Archives:

More posts:

Meeting storks at the Berehovo Public Center “Everyone Can Help”

At the Berehovo Public Center “Everyone Can Help,” eco-activists hosted an educational session for children focused on stork conservation. With the storks soon beginning their mass migration to Africa for the winter, the session aimed to raise awareness about the challenges these birds face during their long journey. Additionally, the session highlighted the plight of storks that, due to injury or other reasons, will be unable to join the migration and will stay behind in Ukraine throughout the winter.

Participants of the Eparchial Summer Camp learn to be responsible with waste

At the Eparchial Summer Camp “The Influencer of God” at the Spiritual Center of St. John Paul II in Antalovtsi, Khrystyna Leshko, a primary school teacher and volunteer with IRCEF and the Ecological Commission of MGCE, hosted an eco-educational event for children titled “Clean Environment – Clean Conscience.” The class aimed to teach the younger generation how to reduce household waste by following the three main principles of the ZERO WASTE ecological movement: REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE.

An ecological quest “Journey to the Realm of Biodiversity” at the parish of the Holy Trinity

Oksana Kremin and Olha Velychkanych, experts of the IRCEF and active volunteers of the Ecological Commission of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy, led an engaging environmental quest titled “Journey to the Realm of Biodiversity” for children at the Holy Trinity parish camp. Throughout this educational competition, participants demonstrated their knowledge by completing various tasks at locations such as “Environmentally Responsible Behavior,” “Forest Biodiversity,” “What Grows There?”, “Winged Friends,” “Animal World Records,” “Guess the Plant by Smell,” and “Decoder.”