Birds and their Backstories

Across cultures, stories often serve as mirrors reflecting human behaviour and emotions. Two folktales about birds from India, one from West Bengal and the other from Manipur, share a common theme: the cruelty of a mother-in-law toward her daughter-in-law. Keep reading and get to know the birds we’re talking about and their backstories.

A Day with Birding Buddies in Bengaluru

On August 24, 2024, we hosted a “How to be a Birding Buddy” workshop in Bangalore with 21 participants. The event featured interactive activities like bird sketching, games, and group discussions, all aimed at enhancing nature education. Participants reported increased confidence in engaging children through bird-themed sessions after the workshop.

Meet an Educator: Ashwin Baindur

Ashwin Baindur is a nature educator from Pune and mentor and founder of The Painted Storks Nature Club for children. He helps children discover the ecological linkages in their surroundings and wants them to learn about the local biodiversity. He believes that children are active participants in this world and can make a difference.

Meet an Educator: Mahesh Yamoji

Meet Mahesh Yamoji, a nature educator from Karnataka who works to create awareness about birds among high school students. He feels that it is most important to learn to love birds, as there is no conservation without love. He currently works at the Karnataka Folklore University in Gotagodi village, Shiggavi taluk, Haveri district, Karnataka.

Meet an Educator: Mihir Pathak

Mihir Pathak is an educator and writer from Vadodara, Gujarat. He has been using different experiential tools, such as theatre, inquiry-based projects, and nature-based activities, to facilitate learning journeys with children for many years. He believes that transformation happens through relationships—the relationship between a child and a teacher.

Meet an Educator: Sabina Fathima

Sabina Fathima is an educator from Chennai. She curates experiential learning journeys for children through interdisciplinary projects. She is the founder of Sunnyside, a micro school that runs in the format of a learning centre. In her school, learning happens in a non-coercive and pressure-free environment, beyond textbooks and curriculums.