Feather in the Wind: The Presence of Birds in Environment and Natural Sciences Textbooks of Primary School

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Published: Apr 18, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/codiste.9876
Keywords:
birds photographs primary education school textbooks
Georgios Ampatzidis
University of Thessaly
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3763-3579
Kalliopi Stara
University of Ioannina
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-608X
Rigas Rigas
Independent Researcher
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1297-3750
John M. Halley
University of Ioannina
Abstract

This study explores the presence of birds in the photographs featured in Environment and Natural Sciences textbooks for primary education. A total of 264 animal photographs were identified. Data analysis shows that, although bird species outnumber mammal species, the latter appear more frequently in the photographs examined. Moreover, only 29 bird species are depicted in the textbooks when the number of bird species found in Greece is 459. We propose that efforts to develop species recognition skills in the framework of biodiversity education should be supported by a greater representation of the species living in our country in school textbooks.


 

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