The Republic of South Africa was the last country to welcome spring this year. At the end of the season, BirdLife South Africa organized a 3-day trip to Golden Gate National Park for 23 learners and 5 teachers.
Participants enjoyed and learnt a lot about the history, culture and the birds found in the National Park. South African Cliff-Swallows, Red-Chested Cuckoos, Red-Winged Starlings and Black-Headed Herons were among the birds seen. The campaign in South Africa is now closed and the total number of sightings of the Spring Alive species registered on the website by African participants is 465.
Internationally, the campaign is coordinated by Polish Society for the Protection of Birds (OTOP) on behalf of the BirdLife International Partnership. Participants of Spring Alive, mostly young people, enter their first observations of arrivals of five migratory birds: White Stork, Barn Swallow, Common Swift, Common Cuckoo and Eurasian Bee-eater on www.springalive.net. The website comprises maps, statistics, and practical guidelines on birds’ recognition and free of charge materials for teachers available after a registration.
”Children and teenagers eagerly participate in Spring Alive as it combines fun and education. They love watching birds, and it creates a need to learn much more about them and become bird experts! It is extremely important to encourage young people to be aware and care about nature. We invite every bird lover to join Spring Alive next year.
For more information please contact Joe Peu on e-mail: or telephone him on 011 789 1122.
About SpringAlive!
Spring Alive is an international project organised by BirdLife International, designed to promote children’s interest in nature and its conservation through the arrival of spring. The core component of Spring Alive is a mass-participation website that is implemented in more than 30 countries. Citizens, but specifically children and families, are encouraged to observe and record the arrival of migratory bird species each year.
The Spring Alive project is of German origin. In 1987 in Bavaria, the first such a programme was executed by the German Birdlife Partner. Since 2006 when the first international pilot year started, Spring Alive unfolded both in terms of number of countries involved and observations made. At the moment the project is conducted by BirdLife Partners in 36 countries from Europe and, since 2010, Africa. Last year’s final number of observations was 103,582 observations. 2011 is also a year of a premiere: the Eurasian Bee-eater joined the group of carefully watched birds.
The whole project would not be possible without the great support of The Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa (MCFEA), Spring Alive’s main sponsor. The aims of the MCFEA are to encourage the appreciation and conservation of flora and fauna with an emphasis on endangered species.
The campaign is also financially supported by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), BirdLife in the UK.
