Birdman’s walk keeps kids in tune with nature

Heard of the Birdman’s Walk? It’s not just a stroll through the woods, it’s a symbol of inclusive education.

Conceptualised by the Agasthyamalai Community Conservation Centre (ACCC) of environment research organisation ATREE, the Birdman’s Walk is a day-out engagement designed as a journey of discovery, learning and fun. Visually and hearing-impaired children and teachers as well as ATREE members are taken to different locations in Tirunelveli, that cover the Aithinai (the five landscapes as mentioned in Sangam-age Tamil literature).

The journey begins at the community-protected Vagaikulam Heronaries, passes through the lush Manjolai hills of Kalakad-Mundanthurai tiger reserve and moves on to Kadayam Ramanadi dam, Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary and the unique Punnakayal estuary and mangroves.

Classroom sessions are conducted ahead of the outdoor immersion to help students develop mental images of what to anticipate on their trip. Visually impaired children embark on a ‘birding by hearing’ adventure, where bird calls become a window into the avian world and the touch of the specimens.

For hearing-impaired students, the visual feast takes centre stage. The programme ensures a true field experience incorporating short hikes through grasslands and streams and navigating uneven terrains providing vital sensory input and strengthening their connection to the natural world.

“At first, I felt the vibration of the zig-zag road and realised we were climbing up a hill. I felt happy when millipedes crawled on my hand. I understood the feeling of how an insect moves,” says T Muthu Karuppasami, a Class VIII student from Anne Jane Askwith Higher Secondary School for the Visually Impaired in Tirunelveli.

The Birdman’s walk also incorporates activities such as hikes, scavenger hunts, and exploration games, empowering children with disabilities to experience the richness of the outdoors. The programme has impacted more than 30 teachers and 300 students – 60 visually impaired and 240 hearing impaired. ATREE will soon launch a training programme for nature education tutors who handle differently abled children.

The Birdman’s walk, named after legendary ornithologist Salim Ali, is a collaboration among ACCC, Tirunelveli district administration, directorate for welfare of the differently abled, and TN forest department and a few corporates.

(The writers are part of ACCC)

(Email your feedback to southpole.toi@timesgroup.com)