Birdwatching

Since 2011 I am a member of Polish Society for the Protection of Birds. When I found out, that one of Vertigem’s activity is birdwatching I was really pleased. I’ve realised that it could be great chance for me to get some informations about birds which appear in Portugal.

Few times a month all Vertigem’s volunteers go to the mountains, forests or lakes to registrate wild birds. With binoculars and books about birds we try to spot and recognize some species (with vocalization or observation methodes). With greater or lesser effects:)

By participation with those kind of activities I had chance to see for myself some birds, which we don’t have in Poland, because usually they breeds naturally in western Europe or in other places in the world, but not in my country.

One of those species is for example Sylvia undata (Dartford warbler) which is very common here. It’s small passerine bird with characteristic long tail. Also Alectoris rufa (Red-legged partridge) is very popular in this part of Europe, but I had to came to Portugal to see this colourful gamebird. Still, I hope to registrate other species that don’t appear in Poland, but just few days left to do this. I have to try harder 🙂

Kasia

Let´s talk about Poland…

As we´ve mentioned before, Vertigem cooperates with school in Marinha Grande. Almost every week volunteers go there to talk about their countries. Few days ago we went to school with our polish presentation. We were talking about Poland´s history,nature and traditions.
Monika showed some pictures and short movies about city she lives in,Wroclaw.I also showed something from Cracow.

Portuguese students were trying to guess what polish famous people are we talking about. They were also trying to speak polish, which obviously wasn´t easy for them 😉 But the most funny thing for them was moment,when we were talking about polish stereotypes and how people in Poland see Europe according to stereotypes.

After our presentation we went to kitchen,where students from São Thomé,who had presentation week before, prepared for us fish in traditional for their country way. We also wanted to make something special from Poland,but here it´s really difficult to buy ingredients that we need. That´s way we just made some polish cookies. But they liked them, few people even asked for recipe 🙂

Talking about food…One part of our presentation was about it…well…I love portuguese food,but when I was talking about polish one in Marinha Grande I realised that I miss traditional polish food like pierogi,schabowy or barszcz. I dream about tomato soup with rice made by my father,which is the best in the world. I´ve already asked my mum to prepare for my arrival polish bigos,which I miss the most!She said YES 😉

Kasia

Our group is getting bigger!

When we´ve came here from Poland, just three volunteers lived in Bezerra´s Ecological Residence – Marilyn, Armelle and Jeroen. Marilyn arrived here in July and she´s staying in Portugal all year. Armelle from France came one month before us and Jeroen from Belgium arrived just one day before our arriving,so for our three everything was new and we start getting know everything together. Armelle and Jeroen are also longterm volunteers. On All Saints Day two Turkish guys joined us. They will stay here for six months. Our group is getting bigger! Now Jeroen isn´t only one man here. We leveled out the playing field 😉

When few people are living together it´s completly normal and predictable that some problem just have to appear. We also haven´t waited long for that moment. After few days of being here we had to make some rules about living at school. We were sick of eating breakfest with somebody´s socks or hammer on the table. We couldn´t keep our eyes shut for things like that. Happily, rules helped our group to clean atmosphere and now it´s more easy to live together 🙂

Of course, everyone has their own habits and we have to respect each other. We are from different countries and cultures, but that thing is very good for us, because we have a chance to learn something about other environments. Sometimes it´s funny, sometimes it´s shocking, but everytime it´s just interesting. Before coming here I didn´t know that estonian language doesn´t have future form and genders. In Estonia they are joking that they have no sex and no future 🙂 Still, I can´t understand how someone who declares vegetarianism eat fish and chickens, but it´s another story…

It was also suprising for me, when I found out that in Turkey only men can cut another man´s hair and only women can take care of other woman´s hair. Probably I will be suprised a few times more here, but I hope it always be nice suprise 🙂

Now in Vertigem we are expecting one new guy from France. He´s coming on Wednesday, 21st November. Hope, he will be nice and cool person, who will consolidate our group 🙂

Kasia

What do we do when we’re not in the farm?

Although we go (usually) everyday to farm we have also other duties. Vertigem cooperates with the schools in nearby cities as well. Every week when it’s possible, we go to Marinha Grande to a professional school of tourism. Students there are around 16-20 years old so it’s easy to communicate with them. Every volunteer has to present their own country there. Also students from the school make presentations so everyone has a chance to learn something. It is very important for local communities as well as volunteers because they have a chance to know young Portuguese and foreign people.

Since the beginning of October we have been three times there. During the first visit I (Monika) was speaking about European Union and especially about Maastrich Treaty. In 2013 it will be 20 years since the signing of this Treaty so it was a good occasion to do it. Afterwards Marilyn from Estonia was giving presentation about her country, culture, and customs. Next week we also went to Leiria where we were talking to children aged 8-10. It was obviously more difficult as they don’t speak any English, only Portuguese. Also that week Armelle from France and Jeroen from Belgium were giving the presentations in Marinha Grande. Also they were cooking traditional food with all of the students. It was a lot of fun!

Another activity that we do is birdwatching. Usually once or twice a week we go to the mountains, or forests and lakes and try to spot the birds. Then we write the names of the species and enter them into a database. It is important not only for us but also other people who want to do birdwatching.

Another thing that recently we have started doing is horse riding. Armelle is a professional in this field so she is giving other volunteers lessons. It is very fun and interesting experience.

Also from time to time we receive groups of kids who are visiting the farm. They learn how to make bread, how to feed animals, we go with them to the caves and do all kinds of things we usually do on the farm.

Of course besides of the duties volunteers have the right to just enjoy their free time. Usually during the weekends we go and travel around to know the country. If we stay in Bezerra we also have a lot of things to do: have fun, go to play pool, play games, do the horse riding and just enjoy our time in Portugal.

Monika

What do we do in the farm?

As volunteers here in Portugal we live in small village Bezerra and we work in the farm called Quinta do Cuco (you can see it in the head picture). Quinta is the educational farm and belongs to Vertigem – environmental organisation working on promoting natural and cultural patrimony. In charge of the volunteers is our coordinator – Rui. He is a very nice and fun person and besides he is also teacher in the University of Aveiro. The farm is located approximately 2 kilometres from the place where we live and we either walk, cycle or take a car there. During the week Rui is always here from Monday till Thursday afternoon, then we usually take a car to the farm. We work everyday in the morning and afternoon with the break for the lunch and relax. Besides working in the farm we do also a lot of different things but in this post I would like to present you “the farmers life”.

Let me give you the tour of Quinta and introduce the inhabitants:

This is Max – he is a guard of our farm. He likes all the volunteers sometimes too much – it is normal he jumps on you to say hello. He is also quite dangerous, unfortunately killed already around 4 cats.

Another dog is Bolota. Rui says he is rasta cause he has some dreadlocks. Anyway he’s a nice and cute dog. Everyday we have to give our dogs food and water.

There are two big cages of chickens. They also need food and water everyday.

Marylin feeding the chickens:

There are also two lovely bulls:

And guess what! They also need food everyday. They have two kinds: hay and a special one.

Monika and Kasia giving food to the bulls:

The bulls live now also with the donkey – Ambrosio. Then in another building there are goats (and one sheep):The turkeys:

And we have also a very new inhabitant of the farm – she came to us just 3 days ago. This is beautiful Suri:

There is also second part of the farm where is a place for all the equipment, a house with a bread oven and a garden (with a pool).

Everyday we go to the farm and do all the usual things which i showed you above. Apart from that there are daily different thigs to do there: picking up fruits, collecting wood, fixing things, making jam etc.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of Quinta do Cuco!

Your special guide: Monika