2026-10-03

As part of the ongoing environmental educational initiative "Wings of Awareness"—a joint conservation drive led by the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES) and Buimerc India Foundation—students from Pallikoodam School participated in an immersive outdoor birdwatching and citizen science field workshop.

An enthusiastic cohort of 42 students journeyed to the vibrant Angaadi Theeram View Point in Puthuppally to conduct a comprehensive survey of local wetland avian diversity. Expert Ornithologist Mr. Ajaya Kumara M. N. guided the young participants along the waterfront, demonstrating fundamental field identification skills, behavioral tracking, and call analysis.

Complementing the field observation, TIES Project Officer Arathi Sasidharan conducted a practical demonstration of the CROW App. Through this interactive digital training, students learned how to log species sightings and submit real-time field data, empowering them to contribute directly as citizen scientists to regional biodiversity records.

Capitalizing on the rich ecosystem of Angaadi Theeram, the field team successfully documented around 30 distinct bird species, including the Grey-headed Swamphen, Bronze-winged Jacana, Oriental Darter, Ashy Woodswallow, Rufous Treepie, and White-cheeked Barbet.

The field excursion was organized with proactive support from Pallikoodam faculty members Sheeba Paul, Deepa, and Punya, who accompanied the learners and facilitated logistics throughout the outdoor session. By blending hands-on field birding with digital mapping tools, the event offered students an inspiring opportunity to connect with nature and champion local wildlife conservation.