In spring 200 sparrows will come back here.

Sparrow is a bird which is probably connected with people the longest. It is believed that it colonized human settlements several thousand years ago. It was one of the first birds which was methodically described and given species name by Carl von Linné, the father of systematics. Primarily – Fringilla domestica, and later – Passer domesticus (in Latin passer means small and active bird, domesticus – domestic).

Sparrow – species of a small sedentary bird that lives on almost all continents, one of the most prevalent species in the world. It did not settle only in Greenland. Primarily it was a bird of semi-deserts and steppes, it probably comes from the Arabian Peninsula and Asia Minor where 10 thousand years ago it joined humans. It can be found in places where people live. In the times of the king Augustus II the Strong the domestic sparrow could not be found in Poland. In the 19^th and the 20^th century it belonged to the most common species that could be found in Poland. In 2004 the house sparrow was taken under strict species protection. At the moment there are around 7 million couples living in Poland.

Sparrow in tradition and history. Sparrows were birds of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love. They were found in literature and folk stories. They have a special place in the Bible (Psalm 103,17) symbolizing, according to Cassiodorus, monks and their humility, and with their tireless voice sparrows praise the Lord and lead heavenly life imitating angels. The bird can also be found in the Book of Leviticus in which two sparrows were sacrificed in order to heal leprosy. According to Cyril from Alexandria alive sparrow signified valuable blood of a singing Temple – the Christ.

House of sparrow. Sparrows live in building openings, tree hollows, nesting boxes, nests of storks, nests in a shape of a sphere made of straw, grass, rootlets, padded out with feathers, and with a side entrance. In order to decorate their houses sparrows also use colorful pieces of fabric and papers.

Menu of a sparrow. The bird feeds most of all on all plant seeds, sometimes even insects.

Life of a sparrow. A sparrow lays 2-4 eggs a year and 5-6 eggs of different tincture from white to brown with spots. Litter is spread through time – it occurs from April to August. Eggs are laid for about 2 weeks by the female and when hatchlings appear the male returns to the nest and together with the female they look for food. At the beginning it is insects, caterpillars, and after a few days – seeds and crumbs. Hatchlings leave the nest after around 17 days. The life expectancy of a sparrow is 10 years. The oldest known wild sparrow was from Denmark and it lived for 19 years and 9 months.

Measurements of a sparrow: on average – length of body is 14-15 cm, wingspan is around 20-22 cm, length of beak is 1,3 cm, body weight is around 24-30 g.

Sparrow’s Day. On 20 March we celebrate International Sparrow’s Day. On 1 April we celebrate International Day of Birds (established in 1906), and on the second weekend of May we celebrate International Day of Migratory Bird.

Hanna Łochocka „Elemelek Sparrow and a tater”

Once upon a time Elemelek sparrow found a tater in a field quite narrow. Not too small, not too big, but perfect to eat.

But the tater was still raw, should he eat it – no. It would be much better if he baked it with some cheddar.

Elemelek strikes a spark, found some leafs in the nearby park, put some twigs from a spire and surprise – there’s a fire.

And the tater – smells so good, baking in a burning wood, getting bigger with each second, eating will be very pleasant.

Elemelek cannot wait no more, but the tater’s still quite raw. Wants to eat it right away, such a tater is gourmet.

Elemelek flaps its wings, fells so hot, now it stings. Though the blister is quite small, hurts real bad, hence the squall.

There’s a drugstore in the forest, Elemelek is in torrents. He lifts his wings, begins to soar and rushes to the woody drugstore.

In the drugstore there’s a crow, very smart, a real pro. Dressed in white, clean smock, but her hearing has a block. An ear trumpet by her side, makes her look quite dignified.

-I need something for my burn.

-You’re in pain. Oh, I yearn. I’ll get something for purgation, stomach won’t feel irritation.

-It’s not my stomach, my dear crow. It’s my wing, just like so. I’ve got blister, can’t you see?

-Something’s wrong with your teeth? Though I have lots of cures, see the dentist, that’s for sure.

Sparrow thought – that’s a toughie – sits on counter, a bit scruffy. Shows the blister on his wing: – Help me, crow. It really stings.

The crow examined it from every side, took some chamomile and applied: – This herb will help to heal. Than starts to write the bill: – That’ll be four pennies, whenever you’re ready.

The blister held on for three whole days, but the compress helped in so many ways. The blister gave out, no more stress. All thanks to wonderful compress.

So now when Elemelek bakes his tater, he patiently waits, he’ll eat it later.

Artykuł „WRÓBELKOWO” pochodzi z serwisu Laboratorium przyrody.

Continuing the implementation of the project “Laboratory of Nature” we organized in the Paradise Garden a screening of an educational film for children about biodiversity and protection of useful insects. The movie premiere entitled “Little Globetrotters” will take place at the Cinema of Nature in “Pottery Village” in Kamionka, on 13 January 2018, at 12:00 pm. We kindly invite preschoolers and pupils from primary school.

Artykuł Little Globetrotters pochodzi z serwisu Laboratorium przyrody.

Artykuł TVP Olsztyn spot about us pochodzi z serwisu Laboratorium przyrody.

http://olsztyn.tvp.pl/21491397/iii-piknik-naukowy-niezapominajki-2015

Artykuł TVP Olsztyn also promotes the Science Fair! pochodzi z serwisu Laboratorium przyrody.

The philatelic exhibition „Butterflies on post stamps” and the permanent photo exhibition „Paradise Garden Butterflies” – 3D photos taken by Janusz Białas, are open till September, 5^th.

Gallery

Artykuł BUTTERFLIES in „Pottery Village” pochodzi z serwisu Laboratorium przyrody.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE OKUDŻAWA FESTIVAL?

1. Register at pl portal.
2. Check your mail, a confirmation email will be sent to the address given during the registration process, click the activation link.
3. Choose the project which you would like to support on PolakPotrafi website (pl/projekt/festiwal-ballad-bulata-okudzawy).
4. Choose and click the sum you would like to donate.
5. Click „Wesprzyj projekt”. Choose the bank and make the transfer.

Join us!

On August 1^st, visit the Rowan amphitheatre in Pottery Village in Kamionka
Concert starts at 18.00.

Another way to support the event is by transferring a donation onto the Nidzica Development Foundation NIDA account:

96 8834 0009 2001 0000 2121 0065
with annotation „Festiwal Okudżawy”

Artykuł Sixth Bułat Okudżawa Ballads Festival pochodzi z serwisu Laboratorium przyrody.

On May 2nd, Pottery Village held a seminar on biodiversity, during which two representatives of the University of Warmia and Mazury: dr Stanisław Czachorowski -Biology and Biotechnology Department professor and Zofia Wojciechowska (Horticultural Therapy Institute) took the floor. Krzysztof Margol informed the assembled audience about biodiversity in Paradise Garden and about the main objectives of the “NATURE LABORATORY” project.

On that day, another educational building – NATURE CINEMA – was opened, where 3D nature movies will be projected. NATURE CINEMA cordially invites school and kindergarten groups for free screenings.

In the afternoon, Krystyna Świątecka and Band gave a wonderful concert in the Rowan amphitheatre.

During the weekend, children and teenagers had many opportunities to have fun while participating in workshops and competitions. The children could make their own toys out of hay, prepare ecologic soap of their own floral and herbal formula, solve nature-related riddles in Niezapominajka and at the Nidzica Forest Inspectorate stand.

The May events were organized as part of the NATURE LABORATORY project financed by National Environment Protection and Water Management Fund with EEA funds. We cordially invite to another event connected with the project: „Bio-diversity – our life” conference that will take place on May, 20th in Pottery Village in Kamionka.

Gallery

Artykuł May Day in Pottery Village pochodzi z serwisu Laboratorium przyrody.