Birding Workshop at Amity University Connects 40 Students with Nature and the World of Birds

Nature education becomes more meaningful when young people get the opportunity to step away from classrooms and experience the natural world through observation. Taking this idea forward, Green Pencil Foundation, in collaboration with Ataavi Bird Foundation, organized an engaging Birding Workshop at Amity University, bringing together 40 students from the Department of Political Science.

The workshop created a space for students to explore the fascinating world of birds while understanding the importance of biodiversity, ecological balance, and our relationship with nature.

Introducing Students to the Art of Birding

The workshop was facilitated by Sandy Khanda, Founder of Green Pencil Foundation, who introduced students to birding as a simple yet powerful way of developing a deeper connection with the environment.

The session encouraged students to observe birds closely, understand their behaviour, identify different species, and become more aware of the biodiversity that exists around them.

Bird watching is not simply about identifying species. It teaches us to slow down, listen carefully, observe our surroundings, and recognise that cities and campuses are also shared spaces for numerous other species.

For students, this experience offered a different perspective on nature and highlighted how everyday surroundings can become an open classroom for learning.

Why Birding Matters for Young People

With increasing urbanisation and growing distance between people and nature, opportunities for meaningful nature connection are becoming increasingly important.

Birds are among the most visible and accessible forms of wildlife around us. Observing them can help students understand larger ecological concepts such as habitats, food chains, migration, biodiversity, and the impact of human activities on other species.

The workshop also encouraged students to think about an important question: How can we build a future where humans and other species can coexist in shared spaces?

This is particularly relevant for young people who will play an important role in shaping the environmental choices, policies, and communities of tomorrow.

A Meaningful Gesture of Gratitude

At the conclusion of the workshop, Dr. Anna Nath Ganguly presented a token of gratitude to Sandy Khanda on behalf of Amity University, acknowledging his contribution towards engaging students in nature-based learning and bird awareness.

The gesture added a meaningful touch to a workshop that brought together education, environmental awareness, and experiential learning.

Building a Stronger Connection with Nature

Through initiatives such as birding workshops, Green Pencil Foundation and Ataavi Bird Foundation are working to make nature education more accessible to students and young people.

The Birding Workshop at Amity University was a reminder that environmental education does not always need to begin with complicated concepts. Sometimes, it can begin with something as simple as looking up at a tree, listening to a bird call, or noticing a species that we may have walked past hundreds of times.