Wednesday, 29 March 2017

PGI Nivedita Creche Celebrates World Sparrow Day

By Tricitynews Reporter
Chandigarh 29th March:- The Department of Environment, BHIM (NGO) and Sparrow Club of Nivedita Crèche have joined hands this year to host Bird Exhibition (27th to 1st April 2017). Birds are compelling part of the human experience of the natural world. The exhibition sensitizes us to the rich bird diversity around us. Over 100 birds of the region are displayed.
Navtej Singh and Arun Bansal  from Panjab University interacted with the tiny tots and sensitized them about various types of birds such as garden birds, Migratory birds, Pet birds etc. He explained to children about identification of various birds and enlightened visitors about our rich Avian Biodiversity. 
Dr Bhavneet Bharti explained how to be a good bird watchers. She showed them various tools required for bird watching (- binoculars, field guides , cameras etc ). She said that birding is something they can do in their  own back yard, neighborhood park or  infact  anywhere. Various rules of thumb include - be quiet and listen, identify the bird and know their habitat.
As pediatrician, Dr Bhavneet  Bharti, emphasized the critical role of nature along with nurture in the overall holistic development of children. In the digitalized modern world, kids in cities are rapidly getting isolated from environment which is responsible for many psychosocial and physical problems faced by kids. Hence, exposure to nature is a key intervention for ensuring optimal well being of kids. She encouraged parents to take children for nature walks as recently  a unique  entity has been  described  in children  named as nature –deficit disorder in the current i-generation kids  . A team of photographers led by Manvarinder Singh from Nikon provided details about the Superzoom cameras and types of lenses used for bird photography.
 An inspiring cultural program highlighting various issues related to house sparrow was conducted by children.  Chief Guest for the occasion was Director of PGI Dr Jagat Ram who complimented the efforts of children and the staff. In addition function was attended by many experts Dr Ravneet Kaur from the departments of Zoology Panjab University, Dr Kawalpreet from Botany dept of SGGS College, Navtej Singh from Photography department and staff of PGI .A quiz was also organized for the children to create awareness about various common birds of Chandigarh using audio-visual tools. Children narrated various stories about birds and also shared their personal encounters with birds.
Miss Anandita shared her experience with an injured owl that was rescued by her parents near their home. Kids were told how indiscriminate use of pain killer drug named diclofenace among cattle had lead to near extinction of vultures from our environment. Role of scavenger birds like crow, vultures was also explained to the kids. How they quickly mop up the dead and decaying animals was shown to them besides the dwindling population of sparrows.
 Children sincerely appealed to all adults to spare some time from their daily rigor and vigor of professional life and ponder over declining number of house sparrows in city beautiful, Chandigarh. 
Dr Bhavneet Bharti   said that World Sparrow Day is everyone’s chance to rise to the challenge of saving them. She appealed that wherever you are, whoever you are, let’s meet for this unique cause to express our joint responsibility to care for nature.

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