Maharashtra PakshiMitra Sammelan

‘Green Works Trust’ at the 33^rd Maharashtra
PakshiMitra Sammelan, Revdanda, Alibag.

10, 11, 12 13 January 2020

About Maharashtra PakshiMitra Sammelan

‘Maharashtra Pakshi Mitra Sammelan’ (MPMS) is an annual gathering of bird enthusiasts organized by Maharashtra Pakshi Mitra Sanstha. This organization, founded in the year 1981, conducts bird surveys, bird counts and many other activities for environment awareness and conservation. PakshiMitra Sammelan is one of the organization’s most important annual event.

This event is organized every year at different locations across Maharashtra. Various NGOs come forward to organize this event under the banner of Maharashtra PakshiMitra Sanstha.

The 33^rd Maharashtra PakshiMitra Sammelan, Revdanda, Alibag

2020 was the 33^rd successful year of this annual gathering. The Sammelan that year was organized by ‘Amazing Nature’ and co-organised by ‘Green Works Trust’.  The location for the Sammelan was Revdanda, Alibag and hence the theme for this year’s Sammelan was Coastal Birds.

Both arts showcase the symbol of the 33^rd MPMS- The White-bellied Sea Eagle

Green Works Trust’ (GWT) collaborated with ‘Amazing Nature’ to co-organise the 33^rd MPMS for Maharashtra PakshiMitra Sanstha. GWT played an important role in organizing some of the key activities of the Sammelan.The activities were as follows:

• Organising a pre-event Photography Competition
• Conducting a Photography Exhibition
• Conducting a ‘Bird Identification Workshop’
• Launching the series – ‘When in Doubt, Try this Out’ at the inaugural function
• Conducting an interactive Group Discussion session
• Leading a birding trail for participants
• Leading a field trip to the nearby Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary

Pre-event activity: PHOTO CON’20

Of the various activities conducted during the Sammelan, the Photography Contest is highly popular. ‘Green Works Trust’ organized this contest called “Maharashtra PakshMitra Sammelan PHOTO CON ‘20” and the theme for the contest this year was ‘Wetland Birds’.

The contest got a great response from photographers. Best entries of this contest were showcased as an exhibition and the winners were awarded during the inaugural function of the Sammelan.

Bird Identification Workshop

On 10^th Jan 2020, Nikhil Bhopale (Founder and Managing Trustee of GWT) conducted a workshop for select participants on Identification of waders. This workshop was split into 2 parts- an indoor session and a field visit.

Photography Exhibition

Green Works Trust held a photography exhibition of Wetland Birds of Maharashtra. This exhibition showcased best entries of the Photo Con’20. In addition, a special panel of photographs by Nikhil Bhopale was displayed at the exhibition. The exhibition was inaugurated on day 1 of the Sammelan and was open for participants and locals for 2 days.

Inaugural Function of the 33^rd MPMS

Official Launch of ‘When in Doubt, Try this Out’

‘When in Doubt, Try this Out’ (WIDTTO) is a first-ever series about similar-looking (hence confusing) species of birds. The first 2 publications in this series are-

• a ‘bookling’ on Plovers and Sandpipers
• a chart on Gulls and Terns

These showcase seen-on-field pointers for identification. As a special feature, videos are integrated using the QR code technology. All identification pointers are presented in an easy-to-understand way thus making these publications an effective, quick-referencing tool for the field. This series, authored by bird expert Nikhil Bhopale was unveiled at the 33^rd MPMS by eminent personalities like APCCF Shri Limaye,
Shri Raju Kasambe and Shri Jayant Wadatkar.

Felicitation of Winners of the MPMS Photo Con’20

The winners of the Photography Contest were declared at the inaugural function and were awarded with cash prizes, a certificate and a trophy.

• Group Discussion session
  The GWT team conducted a highly interactive group discussion session of all the participants of the MPMS. All attendee participants were divided into groups and then given various thought-provoking topics like:Use of bird feeders, Installing Bird Houses, Trade of Exotic Bird species.

Conducting trails and field trip

The GWT team conducted on-field birding for the participants.

Birding at Revdanda beach

A birding trail was organized on the Revdanda beach for all participants on the morning of 12^th Jan. Participants watched waders and gulls and terns at the beach. A white-bellied sea eagle made several appearances. Participants used WIDTTO on the field for birding. Author Nikhil Bhopale along with contributer Avinash Bhagat and the GWT team guided the participants on the field.