Trees are Living Feeders for Vovchok Birds

UA

Trees are Living Feeders for Vovchok Birds

About

We plan to involve the community [adults and children] of the Vovchok village in researching the local ecosystem and biodiversity. The project is aimed at environmental education and the active participation of local residents in the conservation of Southern Polissia nature. The program combines research on flora and fauna with training and practical activities, including excursions and the creation of public space.

The project is coordinated by Ioanna Deshura, a teacher and project manager.

The main goal of the project

The main aim is to create a space in the Vovchok village that will become a center for environmental education and nature research for local and neighboring communities. We plan to realize our vision through a variety of practical initiatives

Create a biodiversity space for local insect, bird, and plant species and replace artificial feeders with trees, which is better for birds in winter.
Promote modern field trips for biology teachers.
Introduce measures aimed at preserving the number of birds throughout Ukraine.
Unite the community to create and support the work of eco-space as a public good, preserve nature, and develop an environmental culture.

Thanks to the support of Peli can live, a charitable organization, and its executive director Yana Bobrova, the project was developed in terms of environmental feasibility and implementation needs in our area. We also thank Lucienne Shum from the ANTS Network for the Protection of National Interests and the Library Country Charitable Foundation for her cooperation!

The project is being actively promoted. Thanks to cooperation with the Mizhrichynska Pushcha Nature Center, Andrii Sahaidak [wildlife guide, forester, scientist, museum worker] conducts excursions for children and introduces them to the peculiarities of the Polissia ecosystem. During these expeditions, children take a lot of photos. These photographs became the basis for the first children’s photo exhibition, which was held in the headmen building, the Vovchok village.

For the project’s children’s group, Yurii Protsenko [assistant professor of the Department of Ecology and Zoology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and employee of Pyriatyn National Nature Park] held a video lecture on Insects of Southern Polissia: Insects and Trees. The children are planning to create an “Insect Hotel” on the allocated area to study the peculiarities of building such constructions and the necessary materials. A detailed theoretical study will help the children make insect houses.

The project participants also had a video meeting with Lithuanian architect Thomas Butkus, who creates public spaces. He advised the project’s children’s group on the stages of working with public spaces.

The Vovchok village already has a 0.500-hectare plot of land where the children have to plant 38 saplings. As part of the program, the children plan to collect information for information stands about insects and local birds, develop and install information signs about trees, insects, and birds, and prepare a space for summer environmental events.

Project timeframes

Project completion: May 2025.

Project Partners

Peli Can Live Charitable Foundation.
The program is implemented with the assistance of the NGO Center for Environmental Initiatives Ecodia
within the framework of the EkoNet project with the support of Austausch e.V. and Bread for the World.