JUST BIRDS IN THE WINTER GARDEN

This year, for the first time we are seeing bird feeders for sale in the shops.
During our first two winters here there were no such things, and winters here are cold, sometimes down to -20 deg C or lower.
We watched the birds in the garden, just sitting, scratching where they could for food and at times scratching into brick walls trying to find non-existent insects.
Most of the time though they would just sit, in trees, on fences, on walls puffing up their feathers trying to keep warm.
So, we set about making feeders for them, not knowing where to start at first, learning as we went along.
By chance we had a big lump of soft pig fat given to us by a friend. We weren't too sure what we supposed to do with it for ourselves, but it was an ideal start to feeding the birds.
So out came a pan, in went the fat, seeds and some dried fruit, and I rolled it all in to balls about 3 inches in diameter.
The next problem was how to present these to the birds in a way that they would see the fat balls and be able to feed from them.
That's when the netting bags from potatoes bought in the supermarket came in handy. We cut these up and wrapped them around the fat balls, tying them at the top with string, which also gave us something to hang them up with.
Next, being the considerate people we are we gave the birds something to perch on by pushing two bamboo kebab skewers through each of the balls, although these later proved to be superfluous as, of course, the birds could grip onto the netting.
Then we hung them in a place not too far from the back windows of the house so that we could have the pleasure of watching the birds feed from them, but also safe from local cats. We also strung some whole peanuts together and hung them from trees in the garden.
Once we had hung about four strings of peanuts and the fat balls we hid away in the house and waited eagerly for the birds to arrive. We waited, we waited, and we waited. It never struck us while we were making the feeders that Romanian birds aren't used to being fed in this way, so they didn't realize that this was free food for them. Food which would help them survive the winter.
Eventually, on the third day a Great Tit arrived. It just sat on the fence below the feeders occasionally glancing up at the fat balls in that half sideways manner that they do. Then suddenly it flew up, perched on a kebab stick and eagerly started pecking away!
It was  a great feeling, and within minutes he was joined by a large number of his pals.

During our first winter there wasn't a lot we could do apart from chop wood to try and keep warm and watch the birds. At some points we had over 40 of them squabbling over who's turn it was at the feeder, and it was difficult to keep up with them getting the fat balls out fast enough, each of which would last about 3 days at best.
We also occupied ourselves by photographing them. We took the photographs through the glass of the back window, which affected the quality of the photos somewhat, but it still felt good to be able to do it, and to record the success of our little endeavour.
We aren't expert bird watchers, but with some confidence we can say that we had Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Nuthatches, Sparrows, and some Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers visit our feeders, amongst many others. It was such a pleasure, even though we would get the occasional Kestrel swoop down to try and take one of them. Thankfully they never succeeded, not while we were watching anyway.

The bird life here in Romania really is wonderful, still thriving because of the largely unspoilt nature of the country. We live in  part of the world where we have woodland as well as open heath and also some water, which adds to the diversity of the different species we see. During Spring, Summer and Autumn I never tire of watching what the locals call 'Eagles' cruise over the top of the hill behind us. Not sure what they are though other than perhaps being some sort of large Kite, maybe one day someone will tell me.
It's amazing what can be seen though when your eyes are opened by living a different sort of life to the one we were used to in the UK.

Steve

www.holiday-romania.co.uk
www.volunteer-romania.co.uk

WITH VOLUNTEER ROMANIA AND THE CHILDREN - WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT

When I'm working with Volunteer Romania, I am as much of an unpaid volunteer as those people who come from all over the world are.
Unfortunately, I get very few chances to actually spend time with the children, my role is more of a support one, running people around, getting materials, doing most of the cooking (not many complaints there I'm pleased to say), etc. So, the chances that I do get are really precious to me, being with all of the children in the various places we work is such a pleasure, always full of smiles. I can't come away from a day when I have been with the children without feeling good, if absolutely dog-tired! (I really do wish children could give energy transplants too!)
The times that I do spend with the children will all stick in my mind forever, whether it be helping to teach English at The Waldorf School or just cuddling a young orphan at the children's home, every one of those times is such a special moment.

When we were asked to help to teach children here English, the first thing we did was ask the children what they would like to know about the UK.....although only a few of the children put their hands up it was a real mistake! The list was enormous! The kids who weren't confident of their English would tell the few who were what they wanted to know and for a short while it was Bedlum!
They wanted to know about all of the different regions in the UK, how 'one' country could be so many 'different' countries, and what the differences were with each.
I said OK that's what we will do, but set off home not really knowing how I could achieve something that seemed like such an enormous task in just five lessons over five weeks, and as soon as I got home started my research to make myself ready. Thank heavens for the world wide web!

We decided that the best thing to do was concentrate on each region separately, so I prepared Powerpoint presentations for each country, starting with Scotland. For each country we did our best to give a clear representation of the different customs, different countryside, different wildlife, different (and joint) histories. With Scotland the kids loved it when I put on my kitchen apron with a kilt on it to show the 'traditional' dress, but of course what they wanted to know most about was The Loch Ness Monster!........."Is it real Steve?"
We carried on talking about Northern Ireland and England itself following much the same subjects, but it was when we got to Wales that it really became fun. I don't know if many of you realize that Prince Charles has homes here in Romania, he loves the country for the same reasons we do. So to the kids he is as much 'Prince Charles of Romania' as he is 'The Prince of Wales' and it gave all the children a sense of being linked up with Wales somehow.
The lessons were a great laugh, and at one point the English teacher accused me of being more of a child than the kids in the class (which I have to admit is true).
The lessons seemed so chaotic to me, and even though I looked forward to each one, I wasn't too sure how much English the children were actually learning, or if they were really of any benefit at all.
When we had finished the initial set of five lessons, we were asked to continue, which I took as an enormous compliment. so, again, we asked the children what they would like to know about. This time when we asked, almost every child in the class put their hands up to ask for something and they all spoke to me in such clear English. It felt fantastic.
I'm not sure that they learnt anything new form us, but I do know that they became more confident in speaking.

Whenever we see any of those same children now, whether it is in town or at the school they all come running up and they talk..........In English!


It's a fantastic feeling.


English is so important, apart form still being the first language in the world in all of it's various forms, it is also the first language of computing, of the internet. having a base knowledge of the language is therefore so important to help these children on their way upwards in the world.


It's  a privilege to be able to assist in a small way with something that is so important, as well as being a real pleasure, and if I can do it, anyone can!    

Steve

www.volunteeromania.co.uk
www.holiday-romania.co.uk