NATURE CLUB SURAT
Environment Education & Research centre
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Environment Education & Research centre
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Himalayan Experience camp Manali 2011 Art & Craft Workshop Saputara 2011 Nature Education Camp - Dangs 2011 Opportunities @ Nature Club Surat Call of Indian Birds Vol-1,2,3 & 4 Video Guide to Birds of India Vol- 1,2 & 3 |
Jungle Book is a newsletter of Nature Club Surat
JUNGLE BOOK... Jan 2011 Forthcoming Activities/Events Annual General Meeting The Annual General meeting of the club will be held on 22 January 2011, at Coral Cottage, within Mahalaxmi Party Plot behind Iscon Mall. The AGM will be followed by dinner. Time: 7:30 pm Please confirm your attendance to 98250-57678 (10:00am – 07:00pm) Nalsarovar Camp: Many migratory birds come to visit our sub-continent for their food and shelter and that’s become a brownie point for bird watchers, bird lovers and ornithologists. Nature Club Surat is giving you an opportunity to say “Hi” to these migrants by conducting a camp to bridge you with these Visitors. Schedule:
Batch: 21-23 January, 2011. Camp Fees: Rs. 1850/- For Members Rs. 1900/- For Non-members Art and Craft Workshop Camp- Saputara 2011. Spend your summer on the top of the hill of Saputara by adding creativity in your holidays with Nature Club Surat’s “Art and Craft Workshop Camp- Saputara 2011”. Schedule:
Camp Fees: Rs. 1850/- for Members Rs. 1900/- for Non- members Himalayan Experience- Manali 2011. The first ray of the Sun glitters the tip of the mountain and makes the mountain more precious by its Golden Touch. Mountains are calling you to trek, to wander in the jungle, bathe in the river. Feel the Nature from a height. Be ready for the Adventure. Batch: 9th May -22nd May, 2011. For registration please contact 99797-30036, 98250-57678(10:00am – 07:00pm) Article My maiden voyage to the Mangrove forest.22nd Sep, I joined a small group of Nature Club Surat members for a visit to a mangrove forest near Surat. When we first neared the site, we were confronted by intense mud and silt – this was the only negative part of the whole trip, but it was expected, because the inter-tidal zones are very muddy and it is precisely in this environment that mangroves thrive. On the shores mangrove trees welcomed us. Wading in the muddy water or the ‘watery mud’ with shoes coated with 2 kg, of mud was fun. We walked and walked and talked. We saw and identified a number of flora and fauna. We saw three species of mangrove plants and were Avicennia marina, Acanthus ilicifolius, Sonneratia apetala. We saw the aerial roots – the breathing organ and realized what adaptation to atmospheric elements meant. We saw several species of plants, which grow in the tidal zone, including the edible ‘bhajis’ locally known as moras. The salty leaves of these creepers are edible and rich in iodine and can be used to make tasty bhajias, thepalas, mothiyas etc. The list of birds that we saw includes Indian Reef Heron and a beautiful pair of Kestrels as the performed acrobatic variations in flight, Sea Gulls etc. Snehalbhai remarked that there were no waders to be seen – but we eventually spotted them at the far end on the cliff, primarily curlews and few sandpipers. The funniest creatures that we saw were the “One limbed Crabs”. With their antennas raised high, a number of them together looked on it tiny pink flowers were moving on the land. There were hundreds of them. Snehalbhai draw our attention to small pockets of mud around some tiny holes and explained how the crabs pushed the mud up while digging the holes. Mud skippers too were in plenty. There were thousands of crab holes and it was funny to see water squirting out of them like small fountains when we walked creating pressure the muddy sandy beach. Walking towards the north and later towards the west we visited and paid due homage to a Ganpati Shrine nearby. The trees nearby the shrine provided shade to the Lord and his devotees. They grew in such a way that their branches mingled with each other. After a few minutes rest we started to walk again. We explored mainly the coastal zone again and went to a creek further. The peace and calmness of the place was disturbed by a distant monotonous noise of what sounded like a dredger. By now the high tide was beginning to swell. They were lashing on the mud formations creating chocolate colored fountains. The stone shaped & pebble shaped mud channels and layers of mud perforated with crab holes which looked like layers of rocks gave a very unique appearance to the beach. By 11:30 the heat of the Sun was making us a little wiry and it was time to return. Exhausted and enriched with the new experience we reach back. Soon we were confronted by noise & din of Ganpati Visarjan as we moved towards the city. Dr. Medha Patel Activity Report: September –December 2010. Snake Awareness Program: In the month of September Nature Club Surat arranged 37 Snake Awareness programs in various schools, colleges, and housing societies as well as in Ganesha Pandals during Ganesha Festival and had covered 5350 people. We showed them how to identify some of our common venomous/non-venomous snakes, explained first-aid for victims of a snake bite and debated facts versus blind beliefs about snakes. As a part of Environment Education in Nagar Prathmik School, Pritesh Patel and Payal Patel had conducted Snake Awareness Program in Nagar Prathmik School No. 19 and 20 of Nanpura and Nagar Prathmik School No. 197 and 198 of Udhna. They also conducted a presentation in Jivanbharati School. SNDT College Programs The SNDT Mahila College had invited Nature Club Surat to conduct a presentation on Ozone Depletion to celebrate World Ozone Day – 16th Sep. 2010. Nature Club Surat conducted 1 ½ hour session, giving them information on Ozone Depletion, its effects on animals, plants, humans and the climate, steps taken to stop it and possible individual contribution in this matter. A power point presentation by Nature Club Surat and movie by UNEP were also shown. The club has been requested to carry out four programs every year on different environmental issues at the college. The college authorities were also interested in sending college batches for various Nature education camps conducted by Nature Club Surat. Over 100 students participated and benefited from the program. On 25th December, 2010, a presentation was conducted at SNDT Women College on Energy Conservation and 48 students visited the Eco-farm and were shown plants, injured birds and animals rescued by the club. The volunteers also explained about the Renewable Energy Sources like Wind mill and Solar Energy. The team also enjoyed Nature Games. Mangrove Walk Program: On 19th September, 2010 Nature Club Surat had organized a Mangrove Walk Program near Surat. 12 participants participated in this program. There they saw several types of mangroves and other tidal-zone vegetation, studied root system of mangroves, its life cycle and discussed their importance in Nature. Visits to Eco-farm and Natural History Museum: On 25th September, 2010, 25 English medium students of Science Stream from J.H. Ambani School visited Eco-farm. Our volunteers explained about the trees, injured birds and animal and also showed them alternate sources of energy in practical and fully functional models. After Eco-farm visit they visited our Club’s Natural History Museum. Here our volunteers showed them shells, insects, rocks as well as the rescued snakes. On 16th December, 2010, 30 students of Fountainhead School visited our Natural History Museum and were shown Corals and Fossils. On 19th December, 2010, Mr. H.S. Singh, Principal Chief Secretary of Forest (PCCF), visited our Wetland Conservation Project at Gavier. Our President, Mr. Snehal Patel showed the Wetland Interpretation Centre and also explained how the school students benefit by visit to such place and understand the importance of Wetlands. One Day camp at Eco-farm: On 26 September, 2010 Nature Club Surat conducted One Day Camp for Learning Pitara Group which included 60 participants. Our volunteer took them to our Wetland Conservation Project at Gavier where they were shown different types of wetland birds, insects, spiders, butterflies etc. We also explained the importance of Wetland and its conservation. Then our volunteer took them to Eco-farm. There we showed them rescued birds, animals and conducted a brief Snake Awareness Program. The participants then carried out rock-climbing and River crossing, as a part of adventure activity. A visit of Sarjan Youth Club: On 26 September, 2010, a group of 50 members of Sarjan Youth Club had visited Gavier Lake. There we showed them plants, insects, flowers, butterflies and also explained the ecosystem of Wetland and its importance for the Nature through a Nature Trail. They also visited Eco-farm and enjoyed the Rock-climbing and River crossing. A visit of Divine Child School: During 28 September, 2010 to 1 October 2010, 834 numbers of students of standard 1-4 from Divine child school visited Gavier Lake and Eco-farm. Our volunteers showed them wetland birds, insects, butterflies, plants at Gavier Lake and also showed them injured birds and animals as well as conducted a brief Snake Awareness Program at Eco-farm. On 11th December, 2010, Nature Club Surat had organized an event for the DPS School, Surat on its Sports Day. We also conducted Adventure activity-Flying Fox, in which 10 students participated. Eco-Farm visit by Fountainhead school On 30th September, 2010, 20 participants of Fountainhead School visited the Eco-farm. Viral Prajapati and Arvind showed them birds and animals which were kept at the farm for treatment. On 15th December, 2010, a group of 52 participants including their teachers, had visited Wetland Conservation Project at Gavier and was taught about the wetland, its ecological importance. They also enjoyed the Bird watching as well as Nature trail. Then they were moved to Eco-farm and were shown different types of trees, plants, injured birds and animals which were regularly treated by our volunteers. They liked the obstacles as a part of Adventure activities. They also visited Prakriti- Environment Education Bus. After lunch, a Snake awareness Program was conducted and they also had a discussion about the Global Warming, Climate Change and its effects. Umrigar school program On 18th December, 2010, Sandeep Jawre conducted the Bird Photo Show at Umrigar School, Umra for 5th standard students. He explained the identification of the birds by photographs as well as by bird calls and also informed about the importance of the birds in Nature. Nature Education Camp- Dang 2010: Nature Club Surat organized “Nature Education Camp-Dang 2010” between 19th October, 2010 to 8th December, 2010. This year, Dang camp was for a period of 50 days, which is the longest camp in history of Nature Club Surat. 485 students of P.R. Khatiwala, Lourdes’ Covent, Fountainhead, Experimental, I.N.Tekarawala and St. Xaviers’ schools participated in this camp. During the camp, the participants were informed and taught about the plants, butterflies, moths, flowers, insects, spiders, soil erosion, changing patterns of seasons, global warming and climate change. Adventure activities like bouldering, valley crossing were also conducted. Nature games, plays, drama, camp songs made the camp enjoyable and unforgettable. They were also shown movies on “Gidh Bachavo”, Vruksh Bachavo” and “Bird Observation” to create environment awareness among them. Nature Club Surat is thankful to Mr. Tinabhai for the fuel (Gas bottles, kerosene and generator), Dr. Medha Patel for chemical free jaggery and Mr. Rajen Shah from Garden Mill for the arrangement of the tempo for camp material. We again thank Mr. Rajen Shah for his Safari car for local transportation as well as an emergency vehicle. Nature Club Surat is extremely thankful to all the volunteers who gave their precious time and knowledge to conduct various Environment Education activities during the camp. Report of Prakriti-Environment Education Bus. Prakriti- Environment Education Bus has been developed and run by CEE with its key partner GGCL. As a district coordinator of Surat District, Nature Club Surat covered 40 schools, institutions, colleges and public places from 8th December, 2010 to 31st December, 2010. The bus has 6 display panels, which covers information about the Surat City, Biodiversity, Land, Water, Energy and Climate Change. Animal Welfare Activity: Between August to December, 2010 Nature Club Surat rescued below mentioned Birds, Mammals and Reptiles.
If you find injured birds or reptiles, then call NCS's Rescue No: 98254-80908. Spread Your Green Hands: Deer Breeding Project: The aim of the project is to reintroduce ungulates in the Dang and Vansada National Park. Nature Club Surat jointly with Majaraja of Vansada and Forest Department has started this project. On 20th November, 2010, two pairs of Spotted Deer of were handed over to us by Sarthana Zoo. The deer were shifted to Vansada at our deer breeding site. On 9th December 2010, a deer baby was delivered by one of the females. The deer are frequently examined by Veterinary doctors as per requirements. Vulture Conservation Project: As a part of the Project, Nature Club Surat has started “Vulture Feeding Site” at Hazira. One of the reasons for the decline in vulture population is scarcity of food in wild. At the feeding site, food is regularly provided to them. In the month of December, 2010, 6 Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) was spotted at the site. Wetland Conservation Project: The club has adopted the Gavier Lake for our Wetland Conservation Project, over past several years. We have planted several indigenous tree species, such as Banyan tree, Peepal, Umaro etc. as they attracts the birds, insects and the other creatures. These have now grown more than 15 fifteen feet tall. We are now removing the non-native Gando Baval (Prosopis julifera) gradually as the indigenous trees have grown. We have constructed Wetland Interpretation Centre where many school students visit the centre as well as the lake for their school studies. They are taught about the wetland, its ecosystem, its importance and how the wetland provides the healthy biodiversity. Request for Donations The club is in need of funds to provide veterinary facilities and transportation to the Deer Breeding site. Our club also requires funds for providing food to vultures as well as maintenance of the feeding site We also need funds to develop our Wetland Interpretation Centre and salaries of the care takers at all our conservation sites. So, kindly please donate generously to support these activities. Save paper: If you want only soft copy of Jungle Book, then send us a request SMS titled as Save Paper and along with your email id on 98250 57678 or email at natureclubsurat81@gmail.com. Let’s reduce the use of paper and save trees. Nature Club Surat is on facebook: Please join Nature Club Surat group on facebook and stay updated with the club activities and interact with other club members. All the Life Members and Patron Members are requested to send their Birth date and email addresses to: natureclubsurat81@gmail.com |
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