When Anju Jose, a Class IX student, was selected as the best student birdwatcher from the Government Tribal High School here on Tuesday, it was the culmination of a scheme introduced by the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary last academic year to ‘make young ornithologists among school students.’
Of the five best birdwatchers of the school, Anju got the top score for observing and noting down the name and features local birds.
Anju says she noticed the most number of birds in the school compound itself, which is close to the sanctuary.
Under the scheme introduced by the sanctuary in the areas under the Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary and Idukki Wildlife Division, 30 schools were selected.
A small booklet, ‘Mottidunna Pakshinireekshakarkayi Oru Kaipusthakam (a booklet for budding birdwatchers), was distributed among the school Nature Club members. The booklet had pictures of 50 local birds and pages for noting down the student’s observations.
The best birdwatchers in the school were presented with a trophy and a certificate by wildlife warden K. Saji.
The scheme has been included in the Mission 676 of the State government and will be implemented in other schools.
Second phaseThe second phase of the scheme at the school was launched on the occasion. Mr. Saji said that the response of students and school managements were very encouraging and that was why they were taking forward the scheme in the second year as well. A small book, ‘Butterflies of Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary,’ would be given free of cost to the students this academic year, he said. Mr. Saji said more students would be made ill be part of the scheme this academic year.
