Within the framework of the “Spring Alive” annual campaign, the young environmentalists of Areni community of Armenia’s Vayots Dzor Province have counted the white stork nests in Areni community.

The results show that the population of white stork in that area has slightly increased which is a pleasing indicator. In particular, while last year a group of young bird lovers counted 20 nests, this year the number has increased to 30. The results suggest that white storks expand their nesting area in the southern part of the country, the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) said on Tuesday.

“We are happy that these counts are conducted by local environmentalists acting as ambassadors and promoting “Citizen Science for Birds” in their region,” it added.

Spring Alive is an international project organized by BirdLife International, a worldwide organization for the protection of birds as well as HeidelbergCement. The campaign is designed to help European, Asian and African children, their families, friends and teachers, to understand, engage with, and take action for birds and nature, and to understand the need for international conservation for migratory species.

All citizens, but specifically children and families, are encouraged to observe and record the arrival of 7 migratory bird species each year: the white stork, barn swallow, common swift, common cuckoo, common ringed plover, sand martin and eurasian bee-eater.

The project is implemented by AraAves NGO.