On World Environment Day, REC Caucasus proudly highlights the revival of a beloved initiative – The Hour of the Garden Birds.
The Hour of Garden Birds focuses on 25 of Georgia’s most common bird species that young people can observe around their homes and schools. From the Collared Dove to the European Goldfinch, students are learning to identify and count birds using guides, binoculars, and training materials that have been updated from the original program.
This hands-on learning model went far beyond just identification. Over 100 young girls and boys, through their eco-clubs, were rigorously trained to become peer educators. Using a “training of trainers” approach, eco-club leaders received thorough instruction and then passed their knowledge on, ensuring the program’s long-term sustainability. This approach was crucial because urban biodiversity, especially in places like Batumi, was already under immense strain from plastic pollution and habitat degradation. By involving youth in real-life observation and environmental data collection, the initiative not only strengthened environmental education but also fostered deep emotional connections with nature. When these young students saw firsthand how plastic pollution threatened the birds they cared about, they transformed into powerful voices for change.
REC Caucasus is committed to making The Hour of Garden Birds a lasting platform for youth engagement, environmental awareness, and action.
With renewed support from the European Union and UNDP, REC Caucasus has reinvented “The Hour of the Garden Birds,” integrating it into eco-clubs across Georgia, including Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi and Dedophlistskaro to not only reconnect youth with local biodiversity but also actively combat plastic pollution, building on its successful 2009 launch with GIZ and Georgia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
