Bird Walk at Moozhikulam Sala Jaiva Campus, near Kochi

Name: Bird Walk at Moozhikulam Sala Jaiva Campus, near Kochi
Start: 2026-10-24T07:00:00+05:30
End: 2026-10-24T09:00:00+05:30

About Moozhikulam Sala Jaiva Campus

On the banks of the Chalakudy River, in Parakkadavu panchayat of Ernakulam district, Moozhikulam Sala’s Jaiva (organic) campus is a small experiment in living lightly on the land. It was founded by environmental activist T. R. Premkumar and opened in 2011. The roughly 2½-acre campus has traditional single-storey homes with no compound walls, set among more than 150 plant species. A great banyan tree stands at the entrance. Fallen leaves are left to return to the soil, chemical fertilisers and pesticides are banned, and rainwater is allowed to soak back into the ground. Around the campus lie organic plots, coconut and areca groves, paddy fields and the green, tree-lined banks of the river. Butterflies, bees, frogs, squirrels and earthworms thrive in this living landscape.

For birders, the campus and its surroundings show how much life a chemical-free, tree-rich patch can support. Raptors such as the Changeable Hawk-Eagle hunt from tall trees. Drongos, orioles, barbets and paradise-flycatchers fill the canopy, flowerpeckers visit mistletoe, and whistling-ducks and pond-herons use the nearby water. The wider Chalakudy River valley, though, is under pressure. Sand mining, pollution, and dams and water diversion upstream are changing the river. Paddy fields and wetlands are being converted for buildings, and the fast growth of the Kochi airport region is spreading development. Campuses like Moozhikulam Sala, which keep native trees, organic farming and open, wall-free green spaces, offer a hopeful model for keeping Kerala’s villages friendly to birds.

Bird Guide: Malavika S Nair

She is a researcher with over three years of experience in ornithological research and is currently working as a researcher at the Wildlife Institute of India – Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore. She has also worked on a vulture conservation project with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and has extensive fieldwork experience in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. Beyond her research, she has volunteered in various forest and urban bird surveys across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Her fieldwork has involved bird identification, monitoring and biodiversity assessments across diverse habitats, contributing to wildlife research, ecological understanding and conservation efforts.

Bird walk Location

Common birds of Moozhikulam Sala Jaiva Campus

The trees around Moozhikulam Sala hold some impressive birds. The Changeable Hawk-Eagle, a powerful forest raptor, watches from a high perch, ready to drop onto prey. The Greater Racket-tailed Drongo is one of the most remarkable birds here. It trails two long tail wires tipped with “rackets”, and it is a gifted mimic that can copy the calls of other birds. Its smaller cousin, the glossy Bronzed Drongo, hunts insects from shady perches. The Indian Paradise-Flycatcher floats through the trees with its long, ribbon-like tail, and the Black-hooded Oriole flashes bold yellow and black in the canopy. Yellow-footed Green-Pigeons feed quietly on fruit. The White-cheeked Barbet, a Western Ghats speciality, keeps up its steady call. The tiny Pale-billed Flowerpecker, one of India’s smallest birds, darts between mistletoe clumps. The Oriental Magpie-Robin sings sweetly from the rooftops, while Common Tailorbirds and Ashy Prinias call from the shrubs. Near the water, Lesser Whistling-Ducks whistle softly as they fly over, and Indian Pond-Herons hunt patiently. The Greater Coucal booms from thick cover, and the Asian Koel’s rising call rings across the campus.