Objectives:

Provide resources to promote an educational project on Biodiversity + STEAM for adults, associations, trainers, teachers and their students.

Share and disseminate the results in order to show the inter-territorial importance of biodiversity conservation.

For the future of biodiversity.

Contents:

  • Knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystems.

  • Birds of prey conservation with a global vision, showing the main environmental threats and highlighting the value of collaboration and sharing of knowledge between different countries, societies, cultures.

  • Science as a tool to work in favour of conserving biodiversity and fighting against climate change.

The common thread is 12 European migratory birds. Through the real data obtained from telemetry monitoring we will build a series of Journey Diaries. These diaries will show us:

  • the duration, speed and distance travelled
  • the landscapes crossed: meadows, fields, mountains, sea, desert…
  • cities and towns of different cultures
  • environmental threats faced

Activity:

1

Choose and meet the raptor to travel with.

2

Know its route

3

Hold a STEM workshop to learn about the environmental problems it faces

4

Reconstruct the details of the bird’s journey

5

Compare with other birds’ routes studied in other Mediterranean areas

These 5 steps will be carried out in 3 sessions of 1 hour each for each classroom group (10-30 participants)

Educational game to get to know the birds involved in the project.
Knowledge of migratory journeys and the importance of collaboration between different geographical locations for the conservation of biodiversity.
Video to learn about the journey from Europe to Africa of one migratory bird.

S. Science – we will learn how science can help with the preservation of biodiversity.
T. Technology – we will learn about tracking devices used to monitor birds’ migratory routes.
E. Engineering – structural calculations, strength of materials, electricity.
A. Art – importance of creativity to visualise, show and share project results in a collaborative way.
M. Mathematics – Geometric figures, distances and proportions, calculations of speeds and arithmetic averages.

Option A: Electrocution- Basic. Construction of a model of a pylon using a basic electrical circuit to show the hazard of electrocution.

Recommended for  the youngest or those who have never done an electric circuit before.

Option B: Electrocution- Advance. Design and construction of a model of a pylon that meets 3 challenges: to be stable and resistant; to be functional with the correct use of conductive and non-conductive materials; to be safe for birds minimizing the risk of electrocution.

Recommended for participants age 11+

Option C:

Tracking birds of prey movements activity. Data analysis and reproduction of movement patterns. Conservation applications: landfills, toxic waste, wind turbines and electrocutions.

Recommended for groups that require a more physical activity. Also suitable for people with intellectual disabilities.

Collaborative creative process where the following are expressed in the context of the real day-to-day movements of the chosen bird:

  • The main species, its habits, needs, role in ecosystems and ethology.
  • The parameters of the journey and the route.
  • Geographical and scenic places along the way.
  • Cities, towns and other elements of anthropic origin.
  • Dangers faced.

The “Journey Diaries” can comprise video, digital and physical resources which will be shared between the groups. This allows different migratory routes to be compared and key points identified to facilitate conservation.

At the end of the course there will be a conference to visualise and share the best results of the participating groups.

Participants:

Free activity, co-financed by the European Union through the Erasmus+ programme.

Open to: Adult education or voluntary groups; adult schools; related associations including groups with disabilities; teachers, trainers and classrooms of learners aged 9-16. Anywhere in the world.

Non face-to-face: Materials are provided and advice is given via email. From January 2023.

Face-to-face: an educator facilitates the 3 sessions with the collaboration of the teacher. January-June 2023 within the area of the two partner organisations.

Languages: Spanish, Italian and English

Project carried out by the collaboration of: GREFA (Spain) and SILENE (Italy).

Partners:

Meet GREFA

GREFA has 3 main activities aimed at biodiversity conservation and environmental protection:

  • Wild Fauna Hospital (Majadahonda, Madrid). GREFA has attended more than 60,000 animals and is considered one of the largest and busiest wildlife hospitals in Europe. It includes a rescue team, nursery and captive breeding projects.
  • Conservation: Reintroduction of species into the natural environment, with telemetry tracking (GPS) and projects to avoid environmental dangers: electrocution, poison, climate change, loss of biodiversity or global health.
  • Environmental education. Including visits and activities for all audiences. Training for adults in various fields, internships and volunteering.

Meet Silene

Cooperative society working in environmental education, nature tourism and management of environmental education centres. They undertake educational activities for adults such as: guided excursions, birdwatching sessions, volunteer activities in nature.

An example is the VitaAttiva Programme which promotes routes and circuits for people with disabilities and the development of social tourism in the province of Trapani (Sicily). In the interests of conservation, field projects are carried out to protect biodiversity and to disseminate and communicate environmental information about nature.

Micro-economic projects for disadvantaged rural areas are also carried out.

Collaborators:

The LIFE FALKON project together with its collaborators Michelangelo Morganti, Jacopo Cecere, Diego Rubolini, Nikos Tsiopelas, Giacomo Assandri have contributed to our project by providing us with data on the migratory journeys of three Lesser Kestrels following the Italian route and two following the Greek route for the elaboration of didactic materials.