As part of Wildlife Week in October 2024, Early Bird and Ataavi Bird Foundation, along with partner organizations, conducted six bird walks for children in six cities. 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.
Designed for children aged 9-13, the sessions were led by nature educators across eight cities, with 152 children participating. For several locations, it was the first time such a session was organized. Both children and parents showed keen interest in joining similar walks in the future.
Highlights from different cities:
- Bengaluru (15th February, Avalahalli Lake)
Children engaged in a 20-minute bird walk, observing bird species, their behaviours, and appearances. Highlights included a flock of egrets and a sun-bathing cormorant, sparking discussions about feather waterproofing. Participants sketched the lake’s surroundings and added birds to them, exploring different habitats and learning about bird adaptations. The session also featured the Bird Bingo game.
Facilitators: Amruta Padgaonkar & Tanmaye G
“Thank you, team! My son had great fun and found it very informative. Appreciate the initiative and effort. 👍🙏” – Parent of a participant in Bengaluru
- Dimapur (16th February, PWD Forest Colony Complex):
The walk focused on observing birds like the Common Tailorbird, Sparrow, Crow, and Pigeon. Participants also spotted bird nests. The children played Bird Bingo, a fun and educational game that encouraged bird observation and nature exploration. The walk was conducted in collaboration with Ecowarriors.
Facilitators: Kulangala Sangtam, co-facilitated by Longtiba Jingru
- Halol (16th February, Vadatalav Lake)
The bird walk began with an introduction to bird identification, migration patterns, and adaptations through interactive games and guided observations. Using spotting scopes and binoculars, participants spotted a diverse range of birds, including Glossy Ibis, Common Pochard, Northern Shoveler, Lesser Whistling Ducks, White Wagtails, Yellow-wattled Lapwings, and various ducks and waders. This session emphasized hands-on learning and fostering a deeper connection with nature.
Facilitators: Venus Joshi (COCOON), co-facilitated by Devanshi Sheth & Hreem Joshi.
- Jaipur (16th February, Kishan Bagh Sand Dunes Park)
It started with a 45-minute bird walk using Bird Bingo. Participants engaged in activities like ‘Match the Bill with the Food’ and observed species such as the Grey Hornbill, Purple Sunbird, Drongo, Indian Silverbill, Eurasian Collared Dove, Indian Spot-billed Ducks, and White-throated Kingfisher. Children enjoyed completing their bingos and learning about bird features through the Early Bird flashcards.
Facilitators: Dinkar Samore, co-facilitated by Gargi
- Mangaluru (16th February, NITK Campus, Surathkal)
Children participated in nature journaling followed by a 60-minute nature walk. During the walk, children observed birds, noting their size, colour, and behaviour. They spotted Cormorants preening, Sandpipers by a stream, Lapwings on the ground, Parakeets flying, Egrets, Ibis, Prinias, Bee-eaters, Green Pigeons, Orioles, Mynas, and a Blackbird. The session also included the Bird Survivor Game and a memory game with Early Bird flashcards. Parents joined a separate walk organized for adults as part of the GBBC.
Facilitator: Aravinda Kudla [The Coastal Karnataka Bird Watchers Network (CKBWN)]
- Ranchi (16th February, Jonha Park)
The session started with an ice-breaking action song. With a focus on bird habitats, the walk through a Sal tree forest allowed participants to observe species like the Black-hooded Oriole, Rufous Treepie, Hair-crested Drongo, and Oriental Honey-buzzard. One participant shared her first experience using binoculars to observe birds. The children also used flashcards to identify birds and later participated in a colouring activity.
Facilitators: Jyoti P., co-facilitated by Sahebram Kediya (Keystone Foundation).
- Trivandrum (16th February, Akkulam Lake)
The event began with an introduction to birdwatching basics, followed by a 45-minute bird walk. The highlight was observing the Pied Kingfisher’s fishing technique, sparking discussions on bird behaviour. The session also included a Bird Survivor Game and bird life cycles. It concluded with reflections, with many expressing excitement at their first birdwatching experience.
Facilitators: Sheena S., co-facilitated by Steffin Babu, Arunkumar P.S., and Vinu.
- Ujjain (16th February, Triveni Eco Park)
The session opened with a “Fact or Fiction” game to introduce basic bird facts. During the walk, participants observed sunbirds, peacocks, fantails, and coucals, as well as mushrooms and spiders. Bird feathers found on the ground sparked curiosity among the children, getting them excited about identifying birds through feathers. The session concluded with a habitat journaling activity and sharing circle on the Kshipra Riverbank.
Facilitators: Saniya Chaplod, co-facilitated by Sakshi Giriya, Priyash Chaplod, Shivani, and Sakshi.
“I loved the games we played and collecting feathers. I enjoyed watching a variety of birds and sitting by the riverbank.” – Parent of a participant at Ujjain
Here are some sketches by children from the walks in different cities;
