Migratory birds for The European ark
MIGRATORY BIRDS FOR
THE EUROPEAN ARK
To start with this didactic unit, we can watch a video about migratory birds. These
birds travel all over the world, and they are bonds between civilizations. They have the same
purpose as our project, we seek common bonds to other European countries. First, we will
watch these videos.
About migratory birds:……http://youtu.be/i3fn2qrxJxo
And now we are going to fly with birds:….. http://youtu.be/3Cc9dVawy14
The World Migratory Bird Day aims to preserve cultural ties that we have in common with
migratory birds and to encourage the economic and environmental benefits. We must ensure
that these cultural, economic and environmental benefits are preserved for future generations.
Therefore on The World Migratory Bird Day, we should encourage in our pupils the
awareness and education to protect migratory birds and their habitats.
There are about 10,000 different species of birds around the world, among which 1,800 are
classified as migratory birds because they need to move from one place to another due to
climatic changes over the seasons. They have to find the best conditions for mating and
bringing up their young.
For more information:
www.worldmigratorybirdday.org
When is the World Migratory Bird Day?
11 - 12 May 2013
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Migratory birds for The European ark
FINAL TASK: Make a large mural about migratory birds to establish bonds between different European
countries, exchanging information between the five countries which are involved in The European Ark Project.
ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITY 1.- The European Ark’s travellers
ACTIVITY 2.- Wetlands as their home during the year
ACTIVITY 3.- We visited each other
ACTIVITY 4.- Natural Parks associated with Ramsar (I)
ACTIVITY 5.- Natural Parks associated with Ramsar (II)
ACTIVITY 6.- European Natural Parks connected by migratory birds
ACTIVITY 7.- Migratory birds through the ages
ACTIVITY 8.- Migratory birds on the Internet network
ACTIVITY 9.- Name migratory birds
ACTIVITY 10.- Environmental Code of Conduct
ACTIVITY 11.- Crafts
ACTIVITY 12.- Alphabet Soup
ACTIVITY 13.- Our country, our natural area
ACTIVITY 14.- Colour these birds
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Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 1.- The European Ark’s travellers
Examples of European travellers, such as:….
Greylag Goose (Anser anser) Gadwall (Anas strepera)
Pintail (Anas acuta)
In this website http://blx1.bto.org/ai-eu/ We can enter our country’s name and seek for migratory birds that visit two of The European Ark’s countries at least.
We can get information there to complete the chart below about the three proposed examples, and look for two more birds.
BIRD
Greylag
Goose
(Anser
anser)
CHARACTERISTICS / PICTURE
COUNTRIES IT
VISITS
The Greylag Goose is a large grey waterbird with Denmark
pink legs. He has black spots on the abdomen. The Holland
head is lightgrey and the forewings are grey-white. Spain
The beak is orange. The Dutch name of this bird is
“Grauwe gans”. The Grey Goose eats plants. The
body length is 75-90 cm. The bird weights 3-4 kg.
Migration:
Some birds migrate, others don’t. Some birds stay
in their nesting-area. Birds from Scandinavia come
to Holland in the winter. They fly in the shape of a
“V”, calling “gakgak”.
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SEASON
All year, above all in Summer
All year, above all in Summer
All year, above all in Winter
Migratory birds for The European ark
Gadwall
(Anas
strepera)
The Dutch name of this waterbird is “Krakeend”.
The Gadwall is a little smaller than a wild duck. The body length is 50 cm. If they
fly you see the pointed wings and the white patch on the belly. The female looks
like a wild duck, but has en orange border around the dark beak. The breeding
male is grey-brown with fine dark markings. The female is grey-brown with dark
spots. In autumn both look similar.
Denmark
Holland
Italy
Spain
Summer and Autumn
Winter and Spring
Autumn and Winter
Winter
Weerribben
The gadwall breeds in the Netherlands
in wetlands like the Weerribben where
they are common. The nest is made of
grass and leaves, hidden under
vegetation.The 8-12 eggs are breeded
28 days, then the young come out.
They first dry and then they go straight
to the water.
You see them often under water, the
tails just above the surface. They search for food on the bottom: plants, roots and
leaves.
The Gadwall is the whole year a common bird in our country: In winter there are
lots of gadwalls here, staying here for the winter or migrating to the south. In
summer they breed here not often.
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Eggs of the Gadwall
Migratory birds for The European ark
Pintail
(Anas
acuta)
The Dutch name of this waterbird is “Pijlstaarteend”.
The pintail is a migratory bird that flies far to the south, to the equator.
Outside the breeding season, the pintail swims often in large mixed groups with
other ducks.
Denmark
Ireland
Holland
Italy
Spain
All year
Autumn, Winter and Spring
All year
Winter
Autumn and winter
The males are easy to recognize. During
the breeding season The male has a pale
gray body and a white chest, a stripe on
the side of the neck and a dark brown
head. The back is yellow and black and
has a long pointed tail.
The females are light brown with a whiter
throat and a shorter tail, but they can be
easily identified by their long neck. Outside the breeding season the male looks
more like the female.
The species is quite large for a duck. Males range from 65 to 75 cm in length and
females are smaller: 50 to 55 cm.
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eggs of the Pintail
Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 2.- Wetlands as their home during the year
Most of migratory birds spend a long time in wetlands, where they can eat, regain strenght and even breed. This network of protected areas for
migratory birds is very important for them, without this protection they could never make long trips.
In this activity, we are going to calculate the number of kilometers / miles that some of these birds fly every year. We can use this tool
( http://maps.google.es/maps?hl=es&tab=wl ) to complete the chart below.
BIRD
FROM … TO
KILOMETRES /
MILES
The average speed for these birds is
200 kilometres per day
NUMBER OF KILOMETRES /
MILES IN A YEAR
NUMBER OF DAYS
Greylag
Goose
(Anser
anser)
Gadwall
(Anas
strepera)
Pintail
(Anas
acuta)
Form Denmark to Holland
500 km
2,5 days
From Holland to Ireland
975 km
4,875 days
From Holland to Spain
1875 km
9,375 days
From Denmark to Spain
2325 km
11,625 days
From Denmark to Italy
1350 km
6,75 days
From Holland to Italy
950 km
4,75 days
From Denmark to Ireland
1200 km
6 days
1800 km
9 days
From Ireland to Spain
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73.000 kilometres
45.625 miles
Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 3.- We visited each other
Now, we are going to calculate the distance between The European Ark’s countries and the time that we are going to spend in our meetings in Spain and
Holland. These websites will be very useful for us:
http://www.horlogeparlante.com/distancia-entre-2-ciudades.html
SCHOOL
DEPARTURE
AIRPORT
-----------
http://www.guiacom.es/e-viajes/distancias.asp
Meeting in Cabezas Rubias (Spain)
May 2013
ARRIVAL
Kilometres and time spent
AIRPORT
by plane
Time spent by a migratory
bird
CPR ADERAN I de
Cabezas Rubias (ESPAÑA)
CARRICK NS
Roscommon
(IRLANDA)
STJAERSKOLEN
Galten (DINAMARCA)
INSTITUTO
COMPRENSIVO
ASOLO Asolo
(ITALIA)
DE WOLDSCHOOL
Steenwijkerwold
(HOLANDA)
16.40
19.40
(Amsterdam)
(Sevilla)
1870 km in three hours
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6 days, 8 hours and 24
minutes
Migratory birds for The European ark
SCHOOL
Meeting in Steenwijkerwold (Holland)
May 2014
DEPARTURE
ARRIVAL
Kilometres and time spent
AIRPORT
AIRPORT
by plane
CPR ADERAN I de
Cabezas Rubias
(ESPAÑA)
CARRICK NS
Roscommon
(IRLANDA)
STJAERSKOLEN
Galten (DINAMARCA)
INSTITUTO
COMPRENSIVO
ASOLO Asolo
(ITALIA)
DE WOLDSCHOOL
Steenwijkerwold (HOLANDA)
Page 8
Time spent by a migratory
bird
Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 4.- Natural Parks associated with Ramsar
We are going to look for places near our schools where these birds can eat, regain strength and breed. These places are known as Natural Parks, and we are
going to seek these places, specially the ones associated to RAMSAR organization. This is the link for the organisation´s website (http://www.ramsar.org).
We are going to look for the required information about it to complete the following chart:
RAMSAR’s main aim
Main aim is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands; orking together in a local, regional,
national and international way, so that a sustainable development in the world is created
First meeting’s place and date
2nd of February 1971, the city of Ramsar in Iran. The Ramsar Convention is the oldest
international treaty in the field of nature conservation. It makes a significant contribution to the
conservation of wetlands. Birds in an Ramsar area get a higher protection status.
Relation between RAMSAR and the United
Nations (UN)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the institutional host for the Ramsar
Secretariat
Where is RAMSAR in your country?
The National Ramsar Committee has not a special building. Chairman is Herman Verheij.
Where is the RAMSAR’s Secretariat?
The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands is housed by IUCN - the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature in its headquarters building in Gland, Switzerland, on Lac Léman
(Lake Geneva).
Number of wetlands associated to RAMSAR
in your country
44
Number of wetlands associated to RAMSAR
in the world
1912 wetlands all over the World. The total surface of these wetlands is 186.9653.216 hectare.
1 hectare is 10.000 square meters. So it’s about 1870 billion square meters.
RAMSAR’s logo …..
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Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 5.- Natural Parks associated with Ramsar (II)
Now, we are going to look for the two nearest wetlands to your school associated with RAMSAR. We seek for information in the website
(http://www.ramsar.org) to complete the following chart.
COUNTRY: ___________________
NATURAL PARK’S NAME
National park “Weerribben-Wieden”
WHERE IS IT?
CHARACTERISTICS
The national park “Weerribben-Wieden is
The national park “Weerribben-Wieden” lies
southwest of Steenwijkerwold, in the north of the a combination of three wetlands:
province Overijssel
Weerribben, Wieden and Rottige
Meenthe.
MAP
WEBSITE
Together they form one of the most
important wetlands of Europe.
The wetland is very large: 100 square
km.
www.np-weerribbenwieden.nl
Water and land are a good combination
in Weerribben-Wieden National Park.
Thats why there is space to live for all
kinds of plants and animals.
The large copper, the otter and the black
tern feel at home here. And there are
growing rare plants such as marsh
spurge, parnassus and fen-orchid.
Migrating birds find lots of food and a
place to rest.
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Migratory birds for The European ark
PICTURES: 2 MIGRATORY BIRDS IN THIS
NATURAL PARK
PICTURES: NATURAL PARK’S LANDSCAPE
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Migratory birds for The European ark
COUNTRY: ___________________
NATURAL PARK’S NAME
National park Lauwersmeer
WHERE IS IT?
In the north of the Netherlands, between
Friesland and Groningen.
CHARACTERISTICS
The National Park Lauwersmeer was
declared on November 12, 2003 a
National Park. It is about 60 km ².
MAP
WEBSITE
Until 1969 the Lauwersmeer was a part
of the Waddenzee (UNESCO World
Heritage List, 2009). Some 40 years
fishermen were fishing with their shrimp
trawlers here.
After the closure of the Lauwersmeer in
1969, the seabed elevated and the
mudflats came to be dry. In these early
years large parts of this area were
wasteland, with a beautiful nature. This
was a real bird paradise.
http://www.np-lauwersmeer.nl
Nature in the area around Lauwersmeer
is so special that the area is designated
as a National Park.
East of the Lauwersmeer are some small
forests. For migratory birds is this a
resting place on their long journeys from
north to south and vice versa.
It’s a birdwatchers paradise.
Spoonbills, all kind of ducks and geese:
you can see large numbers of them in
the national park Lauwersmeer.
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Migratory birds for The European ark
PICTURES: 2 MIGRATORY BIRDS IN THIS
NATURAL PARK
PICTURES: NATURAL PARK’S LANDSCAPE
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Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 6.- European Natural Parks connected by migratory birds
Exchanging information through our twinspace about the nearest wetlands to the schools. We will complete a map with the information about all countries.
Natural Parks connected by migratory birds
National park Weerribben-Wieden
National park Lauwersmeer
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Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 7.- Migratory birds through the ages
At first, we read the information about migratgory birds in this website:
http://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/2012/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=5
We are going to relate migratory birds to cultures through the ages, therefore we will finish these sentences:

Over time and cultures, humans have relied on birds to supply food, to deliver messages, or to serve as symbols of power and prestige.
Birds and their eggs have been an indispensable part of the human diet, as an important source of rich protein and nutrients. Migratory
birds are also a source food.

Artists around the world have been inspired by birds to their paintings, stories, for their music and even in fashion. Different aspects of
birds - their colourful feathers, brilliant songs and their ability to fly across the globe - are all represented in art.

Many coins are decorated with birds, and also stamps and bank notes.

In some shields and flags are birds as a symbol of national pride and strength.

Migratory birds are important culturally, economically and enviromentally because the phenomenon of migration has fascinated people for
centuries, and continues to do so today.

Migratory birds are present in many countries’ culture such as they completely ignore national borders along their migration paths, and
cross entire countries and even continents.
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Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 8.- Migratory birds on the Internet network
We are going to search for the following information online. These aspects reflect the importance of birds to our European culture. We can write
the website address where you find it:
a) Title of a song about birds: of course “Birds” written and performed by Anouk. http://www.anouk.nl
b) A country with a bird in its flag: Albania. http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlag_van_Albani%C3%AB
c) A coin having a bird: The Belarus coin of 1 ruble has a bird on both sides. We found it on
http://www.coincommunity.com
d) A trademark’s logo containing a bird: Dove (soap etc. ) We found
it at www.unilever.nl
e) A football team with a bird in its shield. The Netherlands: Vitesse, Ado, Go Ahead Eagles, IJsselmeervogels, SVZW, Spakenburg,
HBS. England: Liverpool, Norwich City, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, Brighton and Hove Albion,
Cardiff City, Coventry city, Crystal Palace, Colchester United, Oldham Athletic AFC, Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday, Walsall,
Wycombe Wanderers. Spain: AD Alcorcon. Germany: Eintracht Frankfurt , SC Freiburg, Alemannia Aachen, FSV Frankfurt. Italy:
AS Bari, Juventus, SS Lazio, US Palermo, Albino Leffe. France: Olympique Nice, Valenciennes, Dijon FCO. Denmark: HB Køge,
We Could not find logo’s of Ireland, sorry. Website: http://www.voetballogos.nl/overig-europa.html
f)
A story and a book where a bird is the main character: Akka of Kebnekajse is the leader of the group of wild geese from the book Nils
Holgersons miraculous journey (1907) of the Swedish writer and Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940). Website:
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nils_Holgersson
g) A cartoon where a bird is the main character is Road Runner. His partner is called Wile E. Coyote . Road runner doesn’t talk but
only says ‘miep-miep’ when he runs by. Website: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_Runner_en_Wile_E._Coyote
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Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 9.- Name migratory birds We found the Dutch names.
Find out these birds’ names we see in the pictures. This website will be helpful for you (http://blx1.bto.org/ai-eu/ )
BIRDS’ NAMES
Wigeon.
= Smient
(Anas penelope)
Mallard.
= wilde eend
(Anas platyrhynchos)
Mute Swan
= knobbelzwaan
(Cygnus olor)
Pintail
= pijlstaarteend
(Anas acuta)
Garganey
= zomertaling
(Anas querquedula)
White-fronted Goose
= kolgans
(Anser albifrons)
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Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 10.- Environmental Code of Conduct
GROUP WORK……..Write a code of conduct for enviromental conservation and preserving the environment. We make a list with positive
and negative attitudes in each country. Then we will pick out the most important ones and we will create a common decalogo.
ENVIRONMENTAL DECALOGO
POSITIVE ATTITUDES
1. The Netherlands is a country with many parts of rich nature
NEGATIVES ATTITUDES
1. The parts are not connected to eachother. The should be
connected.
2. In the Netherlands there are 44 wetlands pointed to be
preserved.
2. There is a shortage of money, so the management of these
wetlands is in danger. We should preserve the wetlands for the
future.
3. Not only the wetlands according to Ramsar are important,
but there are also lots of small wetlands which are important
to migrating birds, like drainage Canals.
3. Because of the lack of control these drainage Canals can be
easily polluted by pesticides and fertilizers. There should be
more effort on controlling the water.
4. Parts of other National Parks, like Dwingelerveld, get a
higher waterlevel to give place to waterbirds.
4. In other parts of our land is the waterlevel lower because of the
agriculture. Agriculture must adapt to nature.
5. Illuminated drilling platforms in the North Sea are a great
danger: migrating birds are confused by the lights. Research
showed that the birds were mainly affected by the red
component in the white light. Not illogical, because bird eyes
are extra sensitive to red light (infrared and ultraviolet). To
protect migratory birds there has been developed a special
fluorescent lamp that gives light without red component in it.
5. Several drilling platforms equipped with these lights. With
positive results: birds that pass these rigs at night do not
become more confused. They are flying in the right direction.
But there are only several drilling platforms with those lights.
So there are still lots of migrating birds dying at sea. All the
drilling platforms should get special lamps.
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Migratory birds for The European ark
6. Electricity pylons and wind turbines are dangerous obstacles
as they are on the migration route. The Dutch government
tries to avoid such places.
6. On the Afsluitdijk, the dyke between Holland and Friesland,
stand a lot of windturbines. That is an important route for
migrating birds. The Dutch government has to do more to
preserve this route.
7. On most lakes the waterbirds have not much inconvenience
of fishermen
7. Migratory birds are also threatened by fishing shells in the
Wadden Sea. Fishing shells must be strictly regulated.
8. The Dutch government takes measures to get the CO2-level
down.
8. Because of the global warming habitats are disappearing.
Together we should protect our world against global warming.
9. In The Netherlands shooting a migrating bird is not common
and mostly forbidden.
9. In other countries of the world people are shooting freely
migrating birds. It should be forbidden in the whole World.
10. We know a lot about migrating birds…
10. .. but not enough. We should learn more about them.
The Eco-Code is a mission statement. It should demonstrate, in a clear and imaginative way, your school's commitment to improve its
environmental performance
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Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 11.- Crafts
In this activity we are going to make a bird and a ship with paper. These websites will be very useful:
 Ship:… http://www.dibujosparapintar.com/manualidades_pap_barca.html
 Bird:..... http://www.webplastica.es/images/diagramas/pajarita1-1.pdf
We can paint our models and decorate our “THE EUROPEAN ARK” corner.
Besides we can write on birds the name of a migratory bird which visits our country every year
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Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 12.- Alphabet Soup
Search in this alphabet soup, migratory birds that will be useful to complete activity number 9.
Wigeon (Anas penelope)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
querquedula) White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
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Look at the pictures. What are the differences between anser, anas y cygnus?
Page 21
Pintail (Anas acuta)
Garganey (Anas
Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 13.- Our country, our natural area
Search
for
the
required
information,
fill
in
the
areas.http://ramsar.wetlands.org/Portals/15/Statplanet/web/StatPlanet.swf
Netherlands presently
has ______ sites, with
a surface area of
________ hectares.
gaps
and
match
the
countries
to
the
different
1.Horsens Fjord & Endelave
Karrebaek, Dybsø & Avnø Fjords
2.Maribo Lakes
3.Lago dei Monaci
4.Isola Boscone
Ireland presently has
______ sites, with a
surface area of
________ hectares.
5. Laguna di Marano: Foci dello Stella.
6.Baldoyle Bay
Spain presently has
______ sites, with a
surface area of
________ hectares.
7.Blacksod Bay and Broadhaven
8.Coole Lough & Garryland Wood.
9.Bahía de Cádiz
10. Doñana
11. Marismas del Odiel
Italy presently has
______ sites, with a
surface area of
________ hectares.
12. IJsselmeer
13. Lauwersmeer
14. Waddeneilanden,
Page 22 Noordzeekustzone,
Breebaart
Denmark presently has
______ sites, with a
surface area of
________ hectares.
natural
Migratory birds for The European ark
ACTIVITY 14.- Colour these birds.
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Migratory birds for The European ark
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