Connecting children to birds
Dhaval Vargiya is a nature educator from Gujarat. By engaging communities in birdwatching and nature education, he hopes to cultivate a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world. He organizes hands-on bird identification walks and workshops, and has also developed various resources for nature education.
On 15th and 16th February 2025, the second phase of these walks was planned in 8 cities: Bengaluru, Dimapur, Halol, Jaipur, Mangaluru, Ranchi, Trivandrum, and Ujjain. These walks coincided with the Great Backyard Bird Count 2025 (Feb 14-17), a global community science event held annually in mid-February.
Shonali Chenzira is a practitioner of nature-based education from Bengaluru. She has led initiatives that span themes, landscapes and critical issues and is inspired to pursue immersive, interactive and action-oriented biodiversity education. She hopes to not only inform, but move people to act, change and keep hope alive, for everybody’s sake.
Inquiry-based learning is an educational approach that taps into our natural curiosity. It’s a question-driven process where learners actively engage by asking, exploring, and discovering. The practice supports learners as they build upon their knowledge—while also encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the world.
Titash Chakrabarti is a nature enthusiast and musician from Kolkata. With a background in music teaching, he integrates creative arts into nature education, emphasizing hands-on learning. He aims to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in children, advocating for a shift in educational approaches.
Nayantara Siruguri is a wildlife conservation practitioner based in Northeast India. She works with Canopy Collective and the Green Hub Project, focusing on designing and supporting nature education programs at the grassroots in collaboration with indigenous communities. She spends a lot of time in Changlangshu, Nagaland, often “hanging out” with children.
At Early Bird, we’re inspired by innovative approaches to nature education, connecting with diverse audiences. Our work has brought us […]
मनोहर पवार मध्य प्रदेश के देवास के एक प्रकृति शिक्षक हैं। पर्यावरण संरक्षण में उनकी यात्रा पश्चिमी मध्य प्रदेश में सांप संरक्षण और अनुसंधान के साथ शुरू हुई। वह विभिन्न पर्यावरण परियोजनाओं और अनुसंधान अध्ययनों के माध्यम से कॉलेज के छात्रों का मार्गदर्शन भी करते हैं। मनोहर वर्तमान में फाउंडेशन फॉर इकोलॉजिकल सिक्योरिटी के साथ काम करते हैं।
Manohar Pawar is a nature educator from Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. His journey into environmental conservation began with snake conservation and research in western Madhya Pradesh. He also mentors college students, guiding them through various environmental projects and research studies. Manohar currently works with the Foundation for Ecological Security.
On October 6th and 8th, 2024, Early Bird and the Ataavi Bird Foundation, in collaboration with local partners, organized bird walks for children aged 9-13 in five cities: Delhi, Kolkata, Mysuru, Mumbai, Shirgao (Goa), and Gobuk (Arunachal Pradesh). Read the blog to know more.