EDITOR’S NOTE
“Salem Ornithological Foundation (SOF) participated in community seminars, led influential bird walks, supported important conservation projects, and expanded educational outreach by holding workshops on nature-based learning. The team continues to document and observe more rare species across the district. Kudos to all the birders for their effort and time in the field.” – Ganeshwar S V
SPECIAL BIRD WALK
On 01 July 2022, Aarti Rajarathinam ma’am, Angeline Mano M, Ganeshwar SV, and Latha ma’am took a bird walk at Kottanathan Tank and Poolavari Tank. A few highlights of the walk were the Greater Painted Snipe, Glossy Ibis, Zitting Cisticola, Common Kingfisher, Tricolored Munia, and White-throated Kingfisher. To see the complete checklists, click here Kottanathan Tank, Poolavari Tank.
SOF AT ROTARY CLUB – SEMINAR
Rotary Club of Mettur Dam City gave SOF an opportunity to display the Early Bird flashcards, pocket guides, and posters in the “Membership Development Seminar” organized by RC of Mettur Dam City and RC of Jalakandapuram, Salem. The participants from different parts of Salem and surrounding districts were highly appreciative of the Early Bird materials and requested more such learning resources. They also appreciated the activities of SOF. Though there were very few children present, all of them were naturally curious about birds and were excited to see such wonderful materials. SOF is especially thankful to Dr. Sivasubramanian, Viviyan Richards, and Shanavas Mohammed for the opportunity and support.
FIRST VISIONARY WORKSHOP ON THE NANJARAYAN TANK BIRD SANCTUARY
SOF is glad and thankful to be a part of the first visionary workshop on the Nanjarayan Tank Bird Sanctuary convened on behalf of the Tiruppur Forest Division organized by the Kumaraguru Institutions led by the Administrative Officer and Sustainability Program Manager Mr. Saravanan C, a few days back. ATR Field Director Mr. Ramasubramaniam IFS delivered his keynote address followed by the introduction of the Nanjarayan Tank by DFO Mr. Tejaswi IFS. Mr. Ravindran Kamatchi of the Nature Society of Tirupur briefed on the contexts of the Nanjarayan Tank after which experts from World Resource Institute, Kumaraguru Institutions Eco Wing, BNHS, SACON, NCF (Dr. P Jeganathan), Zoo Outreach Organization (Dr. Sanjay Molur, Ms. Priyanka), Coimbatore Nature Society (Mr. Selvaraj, Mr. Pavendhan, Mr. Chetan and Mr. Gajamohanraj), Arulagam (Mr. Bharathithasan), Salem Ornithological Foundation (Mr. Ganeshwar), Birder Mr. Selvaganesh and few others poured in their views on the infrastructure and conservation activities to be carried out in the new bird sanctuary. This is one of the first of its kind to have a pre-project meeting where the department is ready to hear from the different stakeholders and experts and draft the project report considering the opinions. NST is expecting to work closely with the FD to get Nanjarayan Tank Bird Sanctuary in the best shape in the forthcoming years. ACF Mr. Krishnaswamy and ACF Mr. Ganeshram were present throughout the session. Tirupur FRO Mr. Suresh Krishnan, Forest Department personnel, and Members of the Nature Society of Tirupur – Murugavel, Geethamani, Karthikeyan, and Manoj were also present during the workshop.
CONNECT-ED, SALEM
In July, the ACSEN Foundation organized a set of workshops for educators working with young children to support learning post-pandemic, facilitated by noted child psychologist Aarti C Rajaratnam – Innocence to InnerSense. SOF was given the opportunity to present our Nature Education activities and their profound impacts on children. Ganeshwar SV from SOF presented and engaged the participants with nature games. The participants were appreciative of our efforts and realized that connecting children to Nature is one of the most crucial aspects of development in children. Resources and learning materials from Early Bird, Season Watch, and Nature Classrooms were a big hit among teachers, and just like always we strongly recommend everyone to use these resources, especially for children. SOF is deeply grateful to psychologist Aarti Rajaratnam ma’am, Chitra Senthilnathan ma’am, and ACSEN Foundation for the fantastic opportunity given to us to interact with teachers on Nature Education.
CONNECT-ED, CHENNAI
Angeline Mano M and Ganeshwar SV from Salem Ornithological Foundation were given the opportunity to present the nature learning materials from Early Bird, Season Watch, and Nature Classrooms. Ganeshwar SV gave a talk on Nature Education and its impact on children. Angeline Mano M engaged the educators with nature games. Thanks to Aarti Rajaratnam ma’am and ACSEN Foundation for the opportunity.
MILESTONE FOR MANIVILUNDHAN OLD TANK
The consistent and dedicated ecosystem restoration efforts by the ACSEN Foundation and Manithuli Sutrusoolal Membaattu Iyakkam are paying off big time at Manivilundhan Old Tank as we see a rich and flourishing biodiversity. Salem Ornithological Foundation (SOF) is happy to contribute to the efforts by documenting biodiversity, especially birds, and we completed recording 100+ bird species. Manivilundhan Old Tank is currently ranked at No.21 in the Top eBird Hotspots of Salem. Considering the species-rich sites of the Stanley Reservoir as one big Hotspot complex, then Manivilundhan Old Tank ranks No.7 in the Salem district in terms of the maximum number of bird species recorded in a wetland. Regular monitoring will result in the records of more species and SOF hopes to do the same with the support from ACSEN Foundation. For more details about birds recorded: Click here.
SOF IN OTHER EVENTS (1)
On 25 September 2022, Angeline Mano M from Salem Ornithological Foundation was invited as the chief guest for the 1st Annual Day Program of SJ Acadamy, Chennai. SOF expresses heartfelt thanks to Ms. Bala for the opportunity.
FIRST PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD
On 31 July 2022, Venkatraman R sighted and photographed Painted Bush-Quail from Shevaroys, Eastern Ghats. This is the first photographic record for Salem District. To see the complete checklist, click here.
