Bird lovers can now come together and talk about their favorite bird. In a first of its kind get-together in a town in the North banks of the Brahmaputra in Assam, the Big Bird Day aims to celebrate and welcome different species of migratory, as well as annual species of birds respective of their habitats.
“This is an event to show the world that we care about our birds and work towards conserving their habitats in an urban environment. The beauty, songs and flight of birds have long been sources of human inspiration,” says Tolan Ballav Deka, president of HOPE, an ngo based in Tezpur.
Deka adds that nearly 12% of the world’s 9800 bird species may face extinction within the next century. This is the case in Assam as well. Many of the birds are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss as a result of urban development.
“Birds are sentinel species whose plight serves as barometer of ecosystem health and alert system for detecting global environmental ills,” he adds.
Public awareness and education about the physical and behavioral needs of birds can go far in improving the welfare of the millions of birds who visit Assam annually. The survival and well-being of Assam’s birds depend upon public education and support for conservation.
EVENT:
The BIG BIRD DAY event will be held for the 1st time at Tezpur(Assam) jointly by H.O.P.E and WWF on 15th& 16th Feb 2014, among school and college students. The main objective of the event is to share knowledge and awareness about the various species of birds thathas found various human populated areas as a habitat within the confines of a chaotic city like Tezpur. Moreover, the students will be taught on conserving not only birds, but also their various habitats.
Awareness campaign on 15th Feb 2014 :
Venue: DISTRICT LIBRARY AUDITORIUM , TEZPUR.
Time: 10:00 AM
EVENT: An indoor event on awareness of birds and their habitats in and around Tezpuramong school and college students, as well as, bird lovers. This will include presentations by bird experts from WWF (India) and HOPE and sharing several conservation and identification techniques with the students. Activities with students such as ‘Inter school essay writing competition’ will be held on topics related to conservation of nature. Certificates of participation will be provided to all the students taking part in the event as an encouragement to work for conservation.
Bird watching on 16th Feb 2014 :
Venue: Hazara-Pukhuri, Rudrapath, Agnigarh (Tezpur,Assam)
Time: 05:30 AM
EVENT: An outdoor Bird Watching event among 3 groups of 20 members each at various locations of Tezpur supervised by bird experts from WWF( India ) . Identification of birds, habitats and also conservation techniques will be presented by experts as well.
OUTCOME:
The outcome of such an event can be put forward in various ways
- An opportunity for local students and bird-lovers to interact with experts and know about the various migratory, as well as, locally found birds that visit Tezpur annually.
- Conservation techniques of birds and their habitats will be taught to participants during the event which will not only aware them but also result in a chain reaction leading them to encourage others on conservation of nature.
- An opportunity to learn about the amazing adaptation techniques of various birds in tandem with a chaotic city.
- Awareness on loss of natural habitats of birds and how to conserve and keep them free of human wastes.
- Such an event will put Tezpur and Assam on a global map which supports and works for the conservation of endangered birds and welcome them as guests of the city.
- Above all, we wish to create the lost spark between human and nature amidst the day to day activities of human lives.
LIST OF SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE (TEZPUR) :
1. DON BOSCO HIGH SCHOOL.
2. St. JOSEPH CONVENT.
3. MOONLIT SCHOOL.
4. GURUNANAK SCHOOL.
5. SANKARDEV SISHU NIKETAN.
6. SACRED HEART SCHOOL.
7. TEZPUR GURUKUL.
8. St. MARY’S SCHOOL.
9. GOVT BOYS H.S. SCHOOL.
10. GOVT GIRLS H.S. SCHOOL.
11. NAGAR BALIKA.
12. RASHTRABHASHA.
13. BENGALI BOYS H.S. SCHOOL.
14. BENGALI GIRLS H.S.SCHOOL.
15. JATIYA VIDYALAY.
16. COLLEGIATE HIGH SCHOOL.
17. MISSION CHARIALI GIRLS SCHOOL.
18. EMANUEL MISSION SCHOOL.
19. CHILDREN’S PARADISE SCHOOL.
20. AGNIGARH VIDYAPITH.
21. GYAN BHARATI ACADEMY.
22. TEZPUR ACADEMY.
23. SISHU BIKASH KENDRA.
COLLEGES (TEZPUR):
1. DARRANG COLLEGE.
2. TEZPUR COLLEGE.
UNIVERSITY (TEZPUR) :
1. TEZPUR UNIVERSITY ( DEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, DEPT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY, DEPT OF PHYSICS, DEPT OF MASS COMMUNICATION )
CONTACT: +91 94353-86025,+91 83990-19624
EMAIL ID :tezpurhope@gmail.com