Our friends at Mongabay India created this fun video about a little bird called the grey wagtail. In winter this migratory bird flies from the upper Himalayas to warmer areas, like Valparai in south India, where it is welcomed by students. Learn more:
Ideas for kids (and their adults):
1. Create a poster!
Is there a unique or interesting animal or plant in your village, town, or city? Like the kids in Valparai, make a fun, informative poster celebrating your chosen species. Ask if you can post it at school or at local business like a cafe. That way, others can celebrate this animal or plant too.
2. Keep a bird list
Find a bird book (or an online field guide) about the birds that visit your local area. Start keeping a list of all the birds you have seen. If you have them, binoculars are a good tool for birdwatching. Birdwatching is a fun, relaxing hobby that gets you outside and connects you with nature.
You can contribute to research by sharing your bird list with scientists via an app such as eBird, iNaturalist or others.
For more on the story of the grey wagtails of Valparai, visit Mongabay India:
https://india.mongabay.com/2021/03/video-a-wagtail-on-shared-space-birdwatching-and-hope/
