 Marek Jobda
White Stork is one bird being recorded by participants in the 2008 Spring Alive campaign.
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Spring Alive sees early arrival of migratory birds to Europe
11-03-2008
In recent weeks, participants in BirdLife’s Spring Alive campaign have been spotting the arrival of migratory birds all around Europe. Spring Alive invites citizens - especially children - from all over Europe to record their first sightings of Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus, Common Swift Apus apus and White Stork Ciconia ciconia. The campaign, which is implemented nationally by BirdLife’s European Partners, is being promoted in 28 countries.
“The first arrivals were spotted very early this year, possibly due to the mild winter and good weather in Europe”, says Joanna Kalinowska, coordinator of the Spring Alive project. Some of very first Barn Swallows were spotted in Cyprus on the 11th January by the Executive Manager of BirdLife Cyprus, Martin Hellicar.
The first arrivals were spotted very early this year, possibly due to the mild winter and good weather in Europe —Joanna Kalinowska, Coordinator Spring Alive
“The arrivals in Central Europe are extremely early this year as well”, said Aleksander Kalinowski, who sighted the first White Stork in Poland on the first of February and entered his sightings through the Spring Alive website. “Due to my early sightings, I will unfortunately not have a chance to wear a spring bracelet this year”. Mr Kalinowski was referring to the ‘Martenica bracelet’ which is exchanged from the 1st March by Poles, Bulgarians, Romanians and Moldavians. Each person wears the bracelet until they spot their first White Stork of the year.
This year’s participants of the BirdLife campaign can obtain a special Spring Alive bracelet by sending an e-mail or letter to their national BirdLife Partner.
Already more than 700 sightings have been recorded online. However, lots of migratory birds are yet to arrive in Central and Northern Europe. The peak period is expected to be between late March and early April.
This year, the Spring Alive campaign gratefully received extra funding for promoting its activities throughout Europe by the Mitsubishi Fund for Europe and Africa. National grants have also been kindly offered to BirdLife’s European Partners by Vattenfall and Cemex.