Svobodny Hosts Second Birding Car Race

9 september 2025

September 7 saw Svobodny hold a birding rally (an automotive tournament in competitive ornithology) organized as part of the Land of the Lapwing project of SIBUR's Formula for Good Deeds social investment program, with the support of the Birds and People partnership.

The event drew 11 teams comprised of 41 participants. Families of parents with children made up the bulk of participants. The weather contributed to the success of the race. Thanks to clear skies and good visibility the contestants were able to observe and document bird spottings throughout the entire route of the rally.

The race kicked off at 10 a.m. next to the Michurin monument in the city’s arboretum. Prior to the race’s launch, its contestants were greeted by Anastasia Ovchar, an expert with the Ecology Department at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex:
"Besides being an interesting, fun, and yet educational format, this tournament is also a form of scientific volunteering. The data collected by the birders will really help researchers build a more comprehensive picture and compile arrays of big data. Our region is home to many rare bird species that are on regional, national, and international lists of endangered species. I wish you the best of luck in spotting your own one-of-a-kind bird species today".

The 68-kilometer route included three checkpoints and passed through key natural and historical sites of the Svobodnensky District. These included the floodplain of the Zeya River, where the monument to the Mudrets steamship is located; the bridge over the Golubaya River; and the village of Sukromli, home to the monument to those who fought against Japan’s intervention.

The contestants were expected not only to drive along the route but also take short hikes next to water bodies, fields, and forested areas as they searched for and photographed birds.

Elena Snezhko, Head of SIBUR's Formula for Good Deeds program:
"Our birding rally is not only an opportunity to learn more about local bird species but also a chance to rally people around the important cause of conserving the environment. It is gratifying to see that interest in ornithology is on the rise which makes us confident that events like our rally can play a decisive role in fostering environmental awareness among its participants and members of the broader local community".

Elena Goreva, a birding rally participant:
"I’d like to thank the organizers! This is the second time we are participating, and we have had a wonderful experience yet again. The scenic route, unexpected bird sightings, the team spirit, and new discoveries made this day a special one. This makes you feel a part of something bigger as you contribute as a volunteer ornithologist. Thank you for this amazing festival!"

Alena Belousova, a birding rally participant:
"I want to thank all those involved for organizing such a great event. I'd always dreamed of taking part in something like that! Everything was truly great: the gifts, the food, the well-marked route map. The chosen locations were fascinating, and we were able to learn a lot. This includes our children who were curious to find out what were those bird species that they saw."

Background:

The Formula for Good Deeds, SIBUR’s social investment program was launched on February 1, 2016, in all key cities where the company operates. It is being implemented across seven focus areas covering all essential social sector domains: urban development, education and science, sports and healthy living, environmental protection, culture, inclusion, and volunteering. Detailed information about the program is available on the program’s website at www.formula-hd.ru.

The Land of the Lapwing is a comprehensive bird conservation initiative implemented out of SIBUR’s ZapSibNeftekhim facility, Russia’s largest petrochemical complex. Having being under implementation since 2019, it falls under the environmental protection focus area of the Formula for Good Deedssocial investment program. Further details about the project are available at its dedicated website at https://www.formula-hd.ru/projects/nature/chibisi/.

Birds and People, the non-profit partnership for advancing ornithology, has dedicated its efforts to promoting interest in ornithology. It focuses on advancingcompetitive birding, providing training to novice birders, organizing excursions and tournaments for competitive birders. To find out more, visit http://birder.ru.

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The contestants were expected not only to drive along the route but also take short hikes next to water bodies, fields, and forested areas as they searched for and photographed birds.

Background:

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The contestants were expected not only to drive along the route but also take short hikes next to water bodies, fields, and forested areas as they searched for and photographed birds.

Background:

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