World Migratory Bird Day 2011 observed at Rajouri
On 15th of May, a group of around 110 students was taken on a nature trail along the Rajouri River at Muradpur near Rajouri. Rajouri River has its origin in the Pir Panjal range of Middle Himalayas and is an important tributary of the River Jehlum.
A TWO days education and awareness campaign on the importance of Migratory Birds and need for their conservation was organised at Rajouri on May 14 and 15. A large number of students drawn from various educational institutions of Rajouri participated in the event. In pursuit of its mandate of creating awareness among the common masses, especially the school children regarding environmental conservation, WWF-India organized a two days event on 14th and 15th of May, 2011 in Rajouri (J&K). On the 14th of May, around seventy students from different schools participated in two competitions, a painting competition and a slogan writing competition on this year’s theme for World Migratory Bird Day i.e. “Land use changes from a bird’s-eye view”.
During the nature trail along the Rajouri river, students were taken on a birding trip where they were brought face to face with various bird species and they themselves were able to draw the relationship between the various birds and the ecological balance they help in maintaining. Students learned about various scientific techniques to study birds. Students were also made aware about the “International Flyways Conservation Project” which aims at conservation of the migratory flyways of the birds. They were informed that various migratory birds do not recognize the boundaries created by humans and therefore they are the ambassadors of international peace and goodwill. This great message of peace through migratory birds needs to reach to common masses in different parts of the world.
In addition to this, the students were also educated about various water quality parameters through the water quality testing exercise. They were made aware about the importance of these parameters and their influence on the quality of a stream ecosystem. They also learned about the various life forms that are harboured by the streams/rivers in general and Rajouri River in particular. They could draw a relationship between the various life-forms living in an ecosystem after this nature trail. In this way students also learned about the wetlands and marshes along the rivers which act as important habitat for Migratory Birds.
Students, who were adjudged outstanding in the painting and slogan writing competitions organised on 14th May were also given away prizes during the nature trail.
Those who were present on the occasion included Pankaj Chandan, Programme Manager, WWF-India, Dr. Sudha Jala, Research Associate, Centre for Biodiversity, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Rohit Rattan, Project Officer, WWF-India. Pankaj Chandan during his address highlighted the importance of World Migratory Bird Day. He informed that a good number of species of migratory birds are summer visitors to this region. He said that not long ago the Pir Panjal range had rich diversity and density of various bird species, a number which have disappeared now. He praised students for their attention towards the environmental conservation and migratory birds in specific. Dr. Sudha Jala laid stress on the importance of conservation of habitat to achieve the larger goal of conservation of the various species. She underlined the need for involving the younger generation in the process of conservation. Rohit Rattan asked the students to come forward to help the conservation organizations in their goal of sustainable conservation of the environment. The programme concluded with vote of thanks from Pankaj Chandan, who thanked all the participant institutions and their students for their active contributions to the programme. He also thanked all those people who played an active role in conducting this awareness programme successfully and urged the students to keep record of migratory birds in their respective areas.
In addition to this, the students were also educated about various water quality parameters through the water quality testing exercise. They were made aware about the importance of these parameters and their influence on the quality of a stream ecosystem. They also learned about the various life forms that are harboured by the streams/rivers in general and Rajouri River in particular. They could draw a relationship between the various life-forms living in an ecosystem after this nature trail. In this way students also learned about the wetlands and marshes along the rivers which act as important habitat for Migratory Birds.
Students, who were adjudged outstanding in the painting and slogan writing competitions organised on 14th May were also given away prizes during the nature trail.
Those who were present on the occasion included Pankaj Chandan, Programme Manager, WWF-India, Dr. Sudha Jala, Research Associate, Centre for Biodiversity, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University and Rohit Rattan, Project Officer, WWF-India. Pankaj Chandan during his address highlighted the importance of World Migratory Bird Day. He informed that a good number of species of migratory birds are summer visitors to this region. He said that not long ago the Pir Panjal range had rich diversity and density of various bird species, a number which have disappeared now. He praised students for their attention towards the environmental conservation and migratory birds in specific. Dr. Sudha Jala laid stress on the importance of conservation of habitat to achieve the larger goal of conservation of the various species. She underlined the need for involving the younger generation in the process of conservation. Rohit Rattan asked the students to come forward to help the conservation organizations in their goal of sustainable conservation of the environment. The programme concluded with vote of thanks from Pankaj Chandan, who thanked all the participant institutions and their students for their active contributions to the programme. He also thanked all those people who played an active role in conducting this awareness programme successfully and urged the students to keep record of migratory birds in their respective areas.
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