2025-10-04

The Wings of Awareness programme, an educational initiative of the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES) conceived and supported by Buimerc India Foundation, conducted a bird-watching session at M.G.M High School, Pampady. The event was intended to create meaningful, first-hand experiences for students, enabling them to connect with nature and discover the richness of bird life in their own surroundings. The project will be implemented across 20 schools in Kottayam District, engaging around 1,000 students and 60 teachers.

A selected group of students, accompanied by teacher coordinators, took part in the session held in and around the school premises. The session began with a demonstration of the CROW(Children's Resources for Ornithology and Wilderness)  app by Ms. Suhaana, Project Officer of Wings of Awareness. She explained how the application can be used to document bird sightings and contribute to conservation efforts, transforming student observations into valuable scientific data. This was followed by Mr. Ajayan Kumar M.N, Ornithology Expert at TIES, who introduced the students to the ethics of bird watching, field discipline, and practical identification techniques. His talk prepared the participants for a responsible and rewarding observation experience. 

The birding trail proved highly rewarding. The group identified 23 different species, including the Asian Koel, Asian Tit, Red-whiskered Bulbul, and Green Bee-eater. A particularly exciting moment came when the students witnessed a mixed foraging flock, where Jungle Babblers, Greater Coucal, Common Myna, and House Crow were observed feeding together. The participants responded with great enthusiasm, asking questions and sharing their own observations.

The morning’s learning was not limited to birds alone. Students also showed keen interest in the plants and butterflies along the way. Mrs. Reni Abraham, with her background in Botany, introduced them to local flora, while Mr. Ajayan Kumar explained butterfly behavior and species, adding further depth to the experience.

The bird-watching session at M.G.M High School was both educational and inspiring. By revealing the diversity of species within their campus—many of which had gone unnoticed before—the programme encouraged students to appreciate nature more deeply and to take responsibility for protecting it.

The programme was coordinated by Mrs. Preetha Mathew, Teacher coordinator from MGM High School.