Birds exhibit a remarkable resilience to cold weather, prioritizing the search for food over the fear of freezing during the winter. This drive often leads them to seek assistance near human dwellings in the hopes of finding sustenance. An interesting statistic reveals that consistently maintaining full bird feeders throughout the winter can save the lives of more than 12 birds from starvation.
Oksana Kremin, an IRCEF expert, conducted an enlightening eco-educational session on the diverse bird species wintering in the Ukrainian Carpathians with the students of the Uzhhorod Greek Catholic private lyceum “TheoBand” to instill compassion towards birds in children. The selection of “TheoBand” Lyceum was intentional, with the goal of instilling a fascination with wildlife from an early age, developing observational skills, and promoting a commitment to environmental preservation. The session commenced with an engaging multimedia presentation titled “Birds of Our Land,” immersing the students in the world of the birds that remain in Transcarpathia during the winter season. This educational tool served to expand their knowledge of local bird species and their dietary preferences during the winter months. As spring approaches, there is still a need for food for these birds, making it crucial for children and adults to come to their rescue.
Providing a consistent supply of food for wintering birds in the region may be accomplished by equipping every classroom in cities and villages with feeders. The young nature enthusiasts engaged in a series of creative activities, including solving riddles, painting bird portraits, and crafting informative campaign leaflets. The event turned into an ecological initiative, with the naturalists happily setting up a bird feeder on the school premises and carefully filling it with grains and other healthy snacks for the birds, committing to check and refill it every day. Through these valuable experiences, the children absorbed values of kindness, empathy, and a responsible attitude towards nature, especially birds, while also gaining insights into the complexities of their lives. By providing them with food and nourishment, we were able to help them regain their strength and vitality.
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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).
Oksana Kremin,
Head of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection at PADIUN and IRCEF expert
