Interactive course in basic ornithology to commence in Pune

An interactive course in basic ornithology, which includes topics like bird identification, anatomy, migration and feeding habits, will commence in Pune from December 10, the organisers said Tuesday.

The course, being conducted by Ela Foundation's Center for Ornithological Study and Research, will be the 15th certificate course in basic ornithology, Foundation director Satish Pande said.

The course running into 40 lectures at AV Hall of Garware College is imparted on a no-profit no-loss principle, and is conducted every Monday and Thursday between 6.30 pm and 9.30 pm, Pande told PTI.

"This is India's only interactive course in basic ornithology and includes over 40 PowerPoint lectures, films and field visits. The subjects cover conservation of birds that provide ecological services and are indicators of the health of our environment," Pande said.

Topics include fundamentals like bird identification, anatomy, physiology, flight, migration, behaviour, feeding habits, evolution, ecological role of birds, birds as bio-indicators, habitats, cultural aspects, bird architects, bird photography, bird call recording, avian diseases, first aid, conservation, field study methods, technology for conservation, and applied ornithological aspects, Pande said.

The course has special simplified talks on bird flu, wind-farms, vultures, owls, sea birds and house sparrow among other currently relevant topics. There are four field visits to introduce the participants to various bird habitats and techniques for observing birds in a scientific perspective. Participants will study the elementary techniques of avian biometry and data documentation, Pande said.

It is timed with the winter migration of birds that have started arriving. Participants are taken to the field under expert guidance for habitat and bird watching to experience and understand how birds are studied and data is collected, he said.

Ornithology is also recognised by the Savitribai Phule Pune University as a credit course, he said.

Till date, over a 1,000 alumni of this unique course are contributing towards bird and nature conservation under the guidance of Ela Foundation, he said.

The interactive lectures are conducted by a faculty of eminent ornithologists with over 25 years of field experience.

Past participants include students, teachers, farmers, housewives, doctors, lawyers, architects, defence service personnel, artists, journalists, engineers, businessmen and software experts, Pande said.

Ela Foundation (www.elafoundation.org) has also conducted this course in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra, Pande said.