8 Cities, 8 Walks

Name: 8 Cities, 8 Walks
Start: 2025-02-15T07:30:00+05:30
End: 2025-02-16T21:30:00+05:30

Summary of Project

Early Bird and Ataavi Bird Foundation along with partner organizations in eight cities organized bird walks in Bangalore on 15 Feb 2025 and in Dimapur, Halol, Jaipur, Mangalore, Ranchi, Trivandrum, Ujjain, on 16 FEB 2024 early in the morning. The walks were organized during the Great Backyard Bird Count 2025 (Feb 14-17), a global community science event conducted annually in mid-February. Designed for children aged 9-13 and led by nature educators across the eight cities, the event saw participation from 152 children.

Partnered with

Bengaluru, Karnataka

The children participated in a 40-minute bird walk focused on observing various bird species, their behaviors, and appearances. Highlights included a flock of egrets and a sunbathing cormorant, leading to discussions about feather waterproofing. Participants sketched the lake’s surroundings, noting different habitats.

In the second part of the walk they explored a new habitat, emphasizing bird adaptations. The session also featured Bird Bingo, and children added birds to their habitat drawings. It concluded with a sharing circle where participants reflected on their learnings and exciting moments.

Dimapur, Nagaland

The walk in Dimapur centered on observing various birds, including the Common Tailorbird, Sparrow, Crow, and Pigeon. Participants also spotted bird nests. The children played Bird Bingo, an educational game that encouraged bird observation and nature exploration.

Halol, Gujarat

COCOON & Early Bird successfully conducted a Bird Walk at Vadtalav Lake, engaging 22 enthusiastic participants in an enriching nature experience. The session introduced children 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 other ducks and waders. The event emphasized hands-on learning, fostering a deeper connection with nature.

Jaipur, Rajasthan

The Jaipur session involved a 45-minute bird walk, guided by “Early Bird Nature Detectives Bingo” cards. After an introductory session on birds and a “Match the Bill with the Food” activity, participants observed species like the Grey Hornbill, Purple Sunbird, Drongo, Indian Silverbills, Eurasian Collared Dove, Indian Spot-billed Ducks, and a White-throated Kingfisher. Children enjoyed completing their bingo cards and learning about bird features through “What’s that Bird?” flashcards.

Mangalore, Karnataka

The session in Mangalore started with nature journaling followed by a 60- minute nature walk where children engaged in birdwatching noting the size, color, and behavior of the birds they observed. 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.

Then the participants were divided into two groups, one group played the Bird Survival game and the other played a memory game with Earlybird flashcards. The parents of children also attended another walk organised for adults as a part of GBBC.

Ranchi, Jharkhand

The session in Ranchi began with participant introductions, followed by an ice- breaking action song. The focus of the walk was on bird habitats which was discussed using the habitat posters. A bird walk through a Sal tree forest allowed participants to observe species such as the Black-hooded Oriole, Rufous Treepie, Hair-crested Drongo, and Oriental Honey Buzzard. One participant shared her first experience of using binoculars to observe birds. Afterward, flashcards were used to identify species, followed by a bird coloring activity.

Trivandrum, Kerela

The event started with an introduction to birdwatching basics, followed by a 45-minute bird walk. Participants were divided into small groups for better bird-spotting opportunities. A highlight of the walk was observing the Pied Kingfisher’s fishing technique, which sparked discussions about bird behavior. The session also included a fun game about bird survival and life cycles and concluded with reflections, with many expressing excitement at their first bird-watching experience.

Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

In Ujjain, the session began with a “Fact or Fiction” game to introduce children to basic bird facts. This was followed by a 40-minute walk at Triveni Eco Park, where participants saw sunbirds, peacocks, fantails, and coucals.

The highlight was finding many bird feathers, sparking curiosity among the children. The session concluded with a habitat journaling activity at the Kshipra Riverbank and a sharing session at the end.