At the end of May, 2024 project partners went on a study trip within the framework of the project “Bird-watching Network along the Baltic Coast” (BIRDIE, No. LL-00022).
The purpose of the trip was to gain experience in tourism development related to bird-watching route creation, practical use of infrastructure elements, and exhibitions dedicated to nature and birds.
During the visit, participants explored the Sierra de Grazalema Nature Park, the Barbate Nature Park and its information centre, the Ibis colony, and the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, which is home to the second largest flamingo colony in Europe and includes a visitor and information centre.
The trip also offered hands-on experience in bird-watching tours with ornithologists and nature researchers Peter Jones and Boris Belchev, helping participants better understand the practical needs of experts working in this field. These insights are valuable for planning the activities foreseen within the project.
The experience gained during the trip was valuable for comparing the opportunities for ornithological observations in Latvia, including the Dienvidkurzeme region, with those in Spain. It highlighted Latvia’s strong potential and the expertise of local enthusiasts and researchers in this field.
One key takeaway was the importance of providing multilingual information. In Spain, many of the information materials, stands, and exhibitions were available only in Spanish, which justified the planned translation of materials into English and Lithuanian. This ensures that information is accessible to a wider audience of tourists, travellers, and nature enthusiasts.
When planning the future exhibition at the Pape Tourism Information Point “Dzintarvēji”, it is essential to focus not only on technology-based solutions but also on multi-sensory experiences that help visitors understand natural processes. Such an approach is particularly effective in engaging younger generations and shaping their values regarding biodiversity conservation.
The trip also provided insight into the use of digital tools in exhibitions. Many of the digital solutions observed in Spain were not functioning or not in active use, which emphasized the importance of ensuring long-term maintenance and functionality of technologies and carefully evaluating the real necessity of digital tools in exhibitions.
