“To protect the environment, people need to care about it. To care about the environment, they need to understand it. Birds offer an ideal ‘window’ into the world of nature and are the perfect gateway for people to understand, care for and ultimately help protect their environment. They are the most visible form of wildlife – everyone sees or hears birds every day. Children have an innate drive to try to understand birds and other animals. If we can develop their interest in the environment and nurture it, it will be a significant step towards success. Children are the future of our environment. We need them to have a better understanding of how natural systems work and how they affect our lives!”

“The international element of my work has been especially important and inspiring to me, both because of the opportunities offered by the EU and because of our collaboration with our fellow BirdLife International partners.

Spring Alive began in 2006 as a European project, which has spread to Central Asia and, in 2010, to Africa, where from September onwards children look out for the return of 5 species of birds from their breeding grounds in Europe and Asia. This year, with the announcement that Azerbaijan is joining, 50 countries will be taking part.

In 2013, over 54,000 children, 900 teachers and supervisors, and 500 volunteers from 49 countries, recorded a total of 270,000 sightings of migratory birds on the Spring Alive website and joined in a range of Spring Alive activities. All this shows how much the programme has grown and, with the EU’s help, is continuing to grow.”