After receiving training from our very humble and knowledgable Dr. Ganesan at ATREE for organizing biodiversity walks, and looking at his passion and the way he introduced the species around us, I was thrilled to facilitate one such inspiring bio-discovery walk myself. When he took a bunch of enthusiastic trainees for a biodiversity walk, what really struck me was that it was not about the scientific names of the trees, it was more about the whole ecosystem that the tree had created around it, and the mutual discussion and learning about its cultural relevance, and every day uses as well.
So, with these learning I facilitated two biodiversity walks for:
Biodiversity walk at Bannerghatta Biological Park on December 1st, 2019
Weather on the day was rainy but that did not seem to deter the kids from having fun during the walk. We started by around 7.30 AM. Students were given field guide for identification of birds (designed by NCF). This walk was organized by the forest department and our group was accompanied by 3 staff from the department to provide guidance for us on the walking trails. As we walked the trail, we found some bamboos growing tall and green, I asked them what is bamboo? They mentioned its a grass, the TALLEST GRASS!! Then I asked them, why is bamboo a grass but not a tree? They wondered a little bit. We were asked to walk quickly by the staff and we sprinted a little.
The forest around was green, the special green of the monsoons which was a delight to the eyes and since it was cloudy and rainy, birds and butterflies were may be hiding and staying warm. But we did see some birds during the walk. Whenever we spotted a bird, I asked students to observe the bird and find it in the field guide looking at the features of the bird. First we saw a sun-bird on the edge of a tall canopy tree. Students observed the bird, its features and some pointed out at one of the black birds in the field guide (I don't remember which one but it was not the correct one), and on probing further, they looked through the guide again and identified it as Purple sunbird. We continued to walk and two of the kids told me, 'Ma'am you didn't tell us the answer.' I asked them answer for what? 'Why bamboo is a grass but not a plant?' I told them, this question was for them to find the answer! I was really thrilled about the fact that the question was still brewing in their minds as they walked.
We walked further ahead and passed through a pond where students identified a pond heron which was camouflaged, a huge bird on a small island in the pond which they identified as grey heron, and they also spotted a cormorant. We discussed about cormorant drying its wings in the sun, and why don't ducks do that? Well, its a question for you guys to ponder over.
As we walked ahead, we spotted a bird sitting on the edge of a tree. I directed their attention to the fork tail and they identified the bird as 'Drongo' looking at the field guide. Then we observed a few birds fly overhead as we walked ahead, on probing whether they could identify the bird, students looked at the fork tail and were thrilled to mention that it is a drongo. Then we had discussion about the size of the bird, and it seemed to be small and bulgy. So they looked through the field guide again and identified it was a flock of swallows.
Then we talked about 'honge' mara (Pongamia pinnate) that we noticed during the walk. We observed the spores underneath the white covering on the leaves. Kids were excited to find mushrooms underneath a tree and we had discussion about fungus. I asked them can this tree talk to the one there? Well, they do communicate, and these fungus aids in the communication between trees.
We also observed a nest on the tree, I thought it was made by wasps, and was mentioning to students it could be wasp nest, but staff told that it is made by the black ants. Then we went closer and observed the nest and there were black ants on the tree and the next to the nest.
We observed Muttuga mara (Butea monosperma) and discussed about the its leaves being used for making leaf plates. We stopped by the Jalari mara (Shorea roxbhurgii) and accompanying staff, who were also locals showed the resin on the tree and students also smelled the it and were amazed by that. The accompanying staff told us that this is produced by the tree and it is used in dhoopa and sambrani.
The walk was later followed by a presentation on birds by Chandu Bandi, who did an amazing job at sparking interest among students about birds, its features, adaptions, etc. He used examples that were relevant to students to talk to them about the different type of beaks that different bird possess and how they use it for consuming their food! His passion towards the birds and introducing them to kids was evident and it was a great learning opportunity for me.
This was followed by AJT Johnsingh on wildlife and his experiences and journey as a wildlife photographer and naturalist.
Biodiversity walk at Jakkur Lake on December 8th, 2019
This was the first biodiversity walk for Happily outdoors in Bengaluru. Happily Outdoors is an initiative that I started 3 years ago to connect nature and students. Yes!! I need to write a lot about this initiative, and promise to do that in the coming days.
There were almost 30 people (kids and parents) for our maiden walk, and I was really thrilled. We had a mix of activities and biodiversity walk and we organized it from morning 7.15 AM to 9.45 AM. For many parents and kids this was the first time in Jakkur Lake and they were awed by the flocks of pelicans and storks flying around the lake.
After a fun game, we headed towards the observation deck at Jakkur Lake and Nikhilesh introduced the kids and parents to the lakes of Bengaluru and about Jakkur Lake as well. We discussed about the sewage in lake, and how it increases in the production of aquatic plants around the lake, that can impact other beings in the lake. We introduced them to different types of aquatic plants that grow on the fringes of the lake. We then gave time for kids and parents to observe the biodiversity around them with questions to direct their observation.
Then we gathered for a walk. By now other kids and parents who were at the lake for leisure had joined in and it was 40 people. We first gathered around the Fig tree and I as I began to talk about this beautiful tree, I observed a barbet sitting atop and enjoying the fruits. I directed the attention of the kids towards the bird. They observed the features of the bird and shouted with excitement that it was a parakeet. Then I helped them differentiate barbet from parakeet, taking examples of the obvious features like size, beak colour and shape, etc. I was really surprised by the fact that it did not seem to be bothered by the crowd underneath. After it flew away in a minute, I spoke about the aseasonal fruiting of Figs and how that helps the animals, birds and insects. We discussed about the number of species of figs and how to identify them with features like milky latex. We observed the fruit and they were surprised to hear about fig wasps that lay their eggs in the fruits and how the tree and the figs depend on each other for their survival. I happened to mentioned that the figs enter from a tiny opening down into the fruit and immediately a kids shows the hole at the bottom tip with excitement. We spoke about bats and monkeys relishing the fruits.
Then we moved to the next tree, 'honge mara'. As we gathered around the tree, some kids and parents could identify the tree. Here I mentioned by 'honge mara' being an indigenous species and how many insects, fungus, etc. thrive on them. Parents noticed the deformed leaves and asked why was it deformed, and with many bumps. I asked them why did they think it was. Some kids mentioned that it has disease, some thought it was the insects. I explained to them that it was the insects on the leaves and its secretion that causes the plant to produce more cells forming these bulges all over. I mentioned that these bumps become shelter and food for the insects. Then a parents asked is there an insect inside the bump now? I answered that the insects need not necessarily be inside the bumps, sometimes they leave, and sometimes the plant can keep producing the 'additional' cells even after the insect has left.
As we tried to walk a little ahead few of the kids observed the leaves half eaten of the ashoka tree and as they investigated a little more, they spotted the cocoon of a caterpillar. All the kids got super excited to find the cocoon and the half eaten leaves next to it.
The two hours passed so quickly, we then gathered on the deck and Nikhilesh read a story called 'Bird People of Kheechan' written by Gangadharan Menon!
As we left, we took feedback from kids and parents. What one of the kids told me stayed with me, 'It could have been longer, a whole day.'
Though I had been to Jakkur lake several times before the scheduled biodiversity walk, I couldn't observe so much as this wonderful set of kids and parents who came on a Sunday morning! We saw so much more with the 'detective' kids.
Super thrilled for our next one already :)
So, with these learning I facilitated two biodiversity walks for:
- A group of students at Bannerghatta Biological Park on December 1st, 2019
- A group of families at Jakkur Lake on December 8th, 2019
Biodiversity walk at Bannerghatta Biological Park on December 1st, 2019
Weather on the day was rainy but that did not seem to deter the kids from having fun during the walk. We started by around 7.30 AM. Students were given field guide for identification of birds (designed by NCF). This walk was organized by the forest department and our group was accompanied by 3 staff from the department to provide guidance for us on the walking trails. As we walked the trail, we found some bamboos growing tall and green, I asked them what is bamboo? They mentioned its a grass, the TALLEST GRASS!! Then I asked them, why is bamboo a grass but not a tree? They wondered a little bit. We were asked to walk quickly by the staff and we sprinted a little.
The forest around was green, the special green of the monsoons which was a delight to the eyes and since it was cloudy and rainy, birds and butterflies were may be hiding and staying warm. But we did see some birds during the walk. Whenever we spotted a bird, I asked students to observe the bird and find it in the field guide looking at the features of the bird. First we saw a sun-bird on the edge of a tall canopy tree. Students observed the bird, its features and some pointed out at one of the black birds in the field guide (I don't remember which one but it was not the correct one), and on probing further, they looked through the guide again and identified it as Purple sunbird. We continued to walk and two of the kids told me, 'Ma'am you didn't tell us the answer.' I asked them answer for what? 'Why bamboo is a grass but not a plant?' I told them, this question was for them to find the answer! I was really thrilled about the fact that the question was still brewing in their minds as they walked.
We walked further ahead and passed through a pond where students identified a pond heron which was camouflaged, a huge bird on a small island in the pond which they identified as grey heron, and they also spotted a cormorant. We discussed about cormorant drying its wings in the sun, and why don't ducks do that? Well, its a question for you guys to ponder over.
As we walked ahead, we spotted a bird sitting on the edge of a tree. I directed their attention to the fork tail and they identified the bird as 'Drongo' looking at the field guide. Then we observed a few birds fly overhead as we walked ahead, on probing whether they could identify the bird, students looked at the fork tail and were thrilled to mention that it is a drongo. Then we had discussion about the size of the bird, and it seemed to be small and bulgy. So they looked through the field guide again and identified it was a flock of swallows.
Then we talked about 'honge' mara (Pongamia pinnate) that we noticed during the walk. We observed the spores underneath the white covering on the leaves. Kids were excited to find mushrooms underneath a tree and we had discussion about fungus. I asked them can this tree talk to the one there? Well, they do communicate, and these fungus aids in the communication between trees.
We also observed a nest on the tree, I thought it was made by wasps, and was mentioning to students it could be wasp nest, but staff told that it is made by the black ants. Then we went closer and observed the nest and there were black ants on the tree and the next to the nest.
During the walk we also spotted 'spotted deers', blackbuck which the staff introduced to the students as the animal that was shot by Salman Khan, and Sambhar deer as well.
We observed Muttuga mara (Butea monosperma) and discussed about the its leaves being used for making leaf plates. We stopped by the Jalari mara (Shorea roxbhurgii) and accompanying staff, who were also locals showed the resin on the tree and students also smelled the it and were amazed by that. The accompanying staff told us that this is produced by the tree and it is used in dhoopa and sambrani.
The walk was later followed by a presentation on birds by Chandu Bandi, who did an amazing job at sparking interest among students about birds, its features, adaptions, etc. He used examples that were relevant to students to talk to them about the different type of beaks that different bird possess and how they use it for consuming their food! His passion towards the birds and introducing them to kids was evident and it was a great learning opportunity for me.
This was followed by AJT Johnsingh on wildlife and his experiences and journey as a wildlife photographer and naturalist.
Biodiversity walk at Jakkur Lake on December 8th, 2019
This was the first biodiversity walk for Happily outdoors in Bengaluru. Happily Outdoors is an initiative that I started 3 years ago to connect nature and students. Yes!! I need to write a lot about this initiative, and promise to do that in the coming days.
There were almost 30 people (kids and parents) for our maiden walk, and I was really thrilled. We had a mix of activities and biodiversity walk and we organized it from morning 7.15 AM to 9.45 AM. For many parents and kids this was the first time in Jakkur Lake and they were awed by the flocks of pelicans and storks flying around the lake.
After a fun game, we headed towards the observation deck at Jakkur Lake and Nikhilesh introduced the kids and parents to the lakes of Bengaluru and about Jakkur Lake as well. We discussed about the sewage in lake, and how it increases in the production of aquatic plants around the lake, that can impact other beings in the lake. We introduced them to different types of aquatic plants that grow on the fringes of the lake. We then gave time for kids and parents to observe the biodiversity around them with questions to direct their observation.
Then we gathered for a walk. By now other kids and parents who were at the lake for leisure had joined in and it was 40 people. We first gathered around the Fig tree and I as I began to talk about this beautiful tree, I observed a barbet sitting atop and enjoying the fruits. I directed the attention of the kids towards the bird. They observed the features of the bird and shouted with excitement that it was a parakeet. Then I helped them differentiate barbet from parakeet, taking examples of the obvious features like size, beak colour and shape, etc. I was really surprised by the fact that it did not seem to be bothered by the crowd underneath. After it flew away in a minute, I spoke about the aseasonal fruiting of Figs and how that helps the animals, birds and insects. We discussed about the number of species of figs and how to identify them with features like milky latex. We observed the fruit and they were surprised to hear about fig wasps that lay their eggs in the fruits and how the tree and the figs depend on each other for their survival. I happened to mentioned that the figs enter from a tiny opening down into the fruit and immediately a kids shows the hole at the bottom tip with excitement. We spoke about bats and monkeys relishing the fruits.
Then we moved to the next tree, 'honge mara'. As we gathered around the tree, some kids and parents could identify the tree. Here I mentioned by 'honge mara' being an indigenous species and how many insects, fungus, etc. thrive on them. Parents noticed the deformed leaves and asked why was it deformed, and with many bumps. I asked them why did they think it was. Some kids mentioned that it has disease, some thought it was the insects. I explained to them that it was the insects on the leaves and its secretion that causes the plant to produce more cells forming these bulges all over. I mentioned that these bumps become shelter and food for the insects. Then a parents asked is there an insect inside the bump now? I answered that the insects need not necessarily be inside the bumps, sometimes they leave, and sometimes the plant can keep producing the 'additional' cells even after the insect has left.
As we tried to walk a little ahead few of the kids observed the leaves half eaten of the ashoka tree and as they investigated a little more, they spotted the cocoon of a caterpillar. All the kids got super excited to find the cocoon and the half eaten leaves next to it.
The two hours passed so quickly, we then gathered on the deck and Nikhilesh read a story called 'Bird People of Kheechan' written by Gangadharan Menon!
As we left, we took feedback from kids and parents. What one of the kids told me stayed with me, 'It could have been longer, a whole day.'
Though I had been to Jakkur lake several times before the scheduled biodiversity walk, I couldn't observe so much as this wonderful set of kids and parents who came on a Sunday morning! We saw so much more with the 'detective' kids.
Super thrilled for our next one already :)
