Orel region became another one Russian region, where school competitions in bird watching passed with the support and participation of the club “Birds and people”. Folk and Environmental Celebration Traditions and Nowadays took place last Saturday, April 17. It was not far from the district center Glasunovka situated 80 km to the south from Orel. Holiday became one of the events of international Russian-Dutch project “Migratory birds’ protection awareness by the revival of cultural-historical traditions in Orel region, realized by the Orel public nature-conservation center “Kovyl” in partnership with our club. Orel region is the center of Russia. On this territory people lived from the ancient times. Practically every district has its own traditions, its songs and rites. Glazunovka is only 100 years old; however, race memory is still living in people. The historical and cultural traditions are connected with rich nature of chernozem area. They refract and have repercussion in today's approaches of environmental education in schools. District’s schools are actively involved in the nature conservation and environmental enlightenment work, including managing of ecological paths, organization of ornithological excursions, conducting of the yearly spring Days of birds and Days of wintering birds welcome. In Orel region are about 252 birds’ species. 135 of them nest in the region, 16 wintering, and others pass the region during migrations. 37 species are listed in the Red Book of region. 16 species of them are recorded in Glazunovka region. They are: small bittern, hen harrier, saker falcon, hobby falcon, little crake, bustard, redshank, marsh sandpiper, ruff, black-tailed godwit, stock dove, short-eared owl, roller, middle spotted woodpecker, lesser grey shrike and aquatic warbler. More than that, there are 4 natural monuments including main ornithological territories and the source of the Oka River. Migratory ways of birds lie along it. The combination of all these factors had no small part in selection of Glazunovka district as a place of conducting of our holiday and first in the region berding competitions. Schools of Glazunovka, Krasnaya Slobodka, Tagino and Lovchikovo and also Glazunovka’s agricultural technical school participated in the measure. More than 60 people participated in competitions and in the holiday. Julia Gorelova the coordinator of the club “Birds and people” opened competitions and described the tasks of birding. Teams’ introduction was held after the registration of participants. Aleksey Konstantinovich Blagovidov, an expert of Global Environmental Foundation and UNEP was elected a chairman of the judges. He described the rules of birds census and the criteria of results evaluation. The member of judges Natalia Vitalevna Vyshegorodskikh, ornithology lecturer of Orel State University, told about the scientific side of the mass birds census within the framework of competitions. She explained that all obtained data will be used by Orel ecologists for purposes of ornithological monitoring. Competition started at 9.30. Teams went to the routes with instructors. The route was not long, about 2 hours. But during this time teams registered 75 species (see below)! All teams returned their check-lists at the end of the rout. Judges began their work. And the holiday began under the birches canopy. It was opened by Valentina Aleksandrovna Tarasova, the main ecologist of Glazunovka region, Oleg Anatolevich Harz, the chief specialist of the district Department of Public Education and Sergey Alekseyevich Sorokin, the chief forest officer of Glazunovka forest area. These people took direct part in holiday organization. They coordinated the preparation of school teams and their participation in competitions. The participation of Nikolay Viktorovich Vyshegorodskikh, the Environmental control service representative of Orel region Administration ensured high status of the holiday. He described the ecosystem method of nature conservation and the possibility of pupils’ participation in the nature conservation measures. The regional leader of the Project, Oleg Mikhaylovich Prigoryanu, the director of the center “Kovyl” told about the main theme of the holiday - local traditions concerned with birds, and also about the versions of Orel city name origin and the possible symbol of the provincial capital – short-toed eagle. Judges under the direction of Vladimir Grigorevich Sakharov, the Chief of biology office of the Teachers’ Extension Course of Orel region, appreciated artistic works of the competition of figures “Our birds”. School newspapers prepared for the holiday also were appreciated. At this time teams and their instructors participated in “bird” quizzes, concerned with people signs, proverbs and sayings. Finally the school groups presented the performances, which were prepared during two months - folk songs, dances, rites, and also poetry installations and plays on the theme of birds’ protection as the contribution to the global ecological problems solution. The known slogan “Think globally - act locally” was entirely reflected in children's and youth performances. Ceremony of rewarding the winners of birding, paintings, school newspapers and poetry and musical competitions took place at the end of holiday. The Prize places of the competitions were: I place (60 species): “Orlyata” (Eaglets) - instructor Sergey Alekseyevich Sorokin Lovchikovo basic charter school Leader - Natalia Ivanovna Yadrova Captain - Igor Matyukhin II place (28 species) was divided by: “Snegiri” (Bullfinches) - instructor Nikolay Viktorovich Vyshegorodskikh Tagino secondary school Leader - Zoya Nikolaevna Sidorova Captain - Konstantin Yanchenko “Druziya ptits” (The friends of birds) - instructor Oleg Mikhaylovich Prigoryanu Glazunovka school Leader - Elena Ivanovna Savonina Captain - Olga Ivanova III place (23 and 17 species respectively) was divided by: “Zhavoronky” (Larks) - instructor Aleksey Constantinovich Blagovidov Krasnaya Slobodka school Leader - Anatoliy Mikhaylovich Lyashenko Captain – Gulnara Dairova “Lesnoy patrol” (Forest patrol) - instructor Natalia Vitalevna Vyshegorodskikh Glazunovka agricultural technical school Leader - Olga Ivanovna Pavlikova Captain - Maxim Gurov The principal criteria of the poetry and musical competition were the presentation of folklore works concerned with the local birds. The prize places were: The center “Kovyl” prepared good gifts to the winners on behalf of Project - office equipment, cameras, and binoculars. Club “Birds and people” awarded pupils by the birds guides. All teachers and representatives of local Administration got the Red Book of Orel region, prepared and published by center “Kovyl” last year, and also methodical literature on the supplementary environmental education. No one was offended - all participants recieved prizes. The words of appreciation to organizers and sponsors Small Embassy Projects of the kingdom of the Netherlands sounded in the finale of holiday. It was proposed to organize regional competitions in birding as the next step. We are assured that the fruitful collaboration of the club “Birds and people” with the Orel center “Kovyl” will turn this dream into reality.