Introduction
Wipro earthian is one of India’s largest sustainability education programs for schools and colleges. It is designed to catalyze excellence in sustainability thinking and action amongst the youth. The Sustainability Educator Network was launched in 2018. It is an initiative to support grassroots environment educators across India. The network of educators engages in stewarding sustainability education in schools and communities in the areas they are based out of.
Navikru Eco Foundation (Navikru) joined the Wipro Sustainability Educator Network in 2021. The team at Navikru has conducted various community engagement programs involving the school community in Ladakh throughout the year. One of the programs they have executed is bird watching for the students who have participated in the Wipro earthian program in 2022.
This booklet documents the birds that were observed by the 21 participating students from Leh, Ladakh, during a six-day birding workshop. Guided by local bird expert and naturalist, Mr Padma Gyalpo, the students learned to identify different bird species in these locations. These include Shey, Chuchot, Puga, Tsokar, and Hanley in Changthang (Eastern Ladakh). Ladakh is home to more than 400 species of birds. The region falls in the migratory path for magnificent birds like the Black-necked Crane (state bird of UT Ladakh) and Bar-headed Goose (the highest flying bird in the world) that also visit Ladakh.
The students learnt about the birds' habits and their habitats, and the importance of saving the habitats for both the residents and the migratory birds. The sightings the students made were captured by them in the form of sketches. This booklet is a compilation of their wonderful work.
Black Kite
Migratory Bird
Location
Indus Belt from Hanley till Phey
Habitat
Plantations and Marshes
Diet Ca
Spotted and Sketched by Government Boys' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Pemba Lama
Black-necked Crane
Migratory Bird
Location
Changthang Marshes, Lakes and Ponds
Habitat
Wetlands - Marshes, Lakes
Diet
Shoots, Tubers, Insects and Small Fishes
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Phyang
Tayeba Maryam
Black-winged Stilt
Migratory Bird
Location
Spituk, Shey, Chuchot, Hanley
Habitat
Wetlands - Marshes, Lakes, Ponds
Diet
Aquatic Invertebrates and Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Phyang
Lakpa Dolma
Bluethroat
Migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat
Bushes and Scrubs
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Anlay
Skarma Tundup
Migratory Bird
Location
Spituk, Shey, Chuchot, Hanley
Habitat
Plantations and Marshes
Diet
Rodents, Birds, Lizards
Booted Eagle
Shaina Bathul
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Phyang
Brown Accentor
Non-migratory Bird
Location
Spituk, Shey, Chuchot, Hanley
Habitat
Bushes and Scrubs
Diet Seeds and I t
Spotted and Sketched by Riglam
Padma Namgail
Model School
Brown-headed Gull
Migratory Bird
Location
Changthang Marshes, Lakes and Ponds
Habitat Rivers and Lakes
D A s
Spotted and Sketched by
Suhail Ahmad
Government High School, Chuchot Gongma
Citrine Wagtail
Migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Indus Belt From Hanley till Phey
Wetlands - Marshes, Streams, Rivers
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Dazes Dolma
Non-migratory Bird
Location
Shey - Chuchot
Habitat
Trees, Marshes and near Human Habitation
Diet
Omnivorous - Insects, Carrion
Carrion Crow
Spotted and Sketched by Riglam Model School
Tsering Phunchok
Common Kestrel
Non-migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat
Plantations, Wetlands, Semiarid Areas
Diet
Insects, Birds, Rodents and Lizards
Spotted and Sketched by Government Higher Secondary School, Sakti
Padma Chosdon
Non-migratory Bird
Location
Rumtse till Hanley
Habitat
Mountains, Semi-arid Areas
Diet
Birds, Insects, Lizards
Common Raven
Spotted and Sketched by
Jigmet Gyalson
Government Middle School, Sankar
Desert Wheatear
Migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Indus Belt from Hanley till Phey
Dry Open Areas, Wetlands
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Phyang
Shaina Bathul
Eurasian Magpie
Non-migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat
Plantations, Bushes and Scrubs
Diet
Omnivorous - Insects, Carrion, Seeds, etc.
Spotted and Sketched by
Stanzin Angchuk
Government High School, Chuchot Gongma
Eurasian Eagle Owl
Non-migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Hanley
Mountains, Rocky Hills
Diet
Small Rodents Birds Lizards
Spotted and Sketched by Government Boys' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Rinchen Dorjey
Migratory Bird
Grey Wagtail
All over Ladakh
Location Habitat
Rivers and Streams
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Phyang
Tayeba Maryam
Hill Pigeon
Non-migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Rumtse till Hanley
Semi-arid Areas, Hills and near Human Habitation
Diet
Insects, Seeds and Grains
Spotted and Sketched by Government Middle School, Sankar
Nima Dolma
Horned Lark
Non-migratory Bird
Location
Changthang Marshes, Lakes and Ponds
Habitat
Marshes and Semi-arid Areas
Diet Insects, Seeds and Grains
Spotted and Sketched by
Jigmet Lamo
House Sparrow
Non-migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat
Bushes and Scrubs and near Human Habitation
Diet Insects, Seed d G i
Spotted and Sketched by Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Sonam Yangdol
Migratory Bird
Hume’s Leaf Warbler
Hanley
Location Habitat
Tree Plantations
Diet Insects and Flies
Spotted and Sketched by Government Higher Secondary School, Sakti
Jigmet Chostop
Indian Pond Heron
Migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat
Marshes, Rivers, Lakes and Ponds
Diet
Aquatic Inve
Spotted and Sketched by Government Boys' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Pemba Lama
Lesser Sand Plover
Migratory Bird
Location
Tsokar, Hanley
Habitat
Wetlands - Marshes and Lakes
Diet
Aquatic Invertebrates, Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Anlay
Tsering Skitzom
Common Swift
Migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Indus Belt from Hanley till Phey
Marshes, Hills
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government Boys' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Rinchen Dorjey
Migratory Bird
Location
Tsokar, Hanley
Habitat
Wetlands - Marshes, Rivers, Lakes and Ponds
Diet
Aq bers
Mallard
Spotted and Sketched by Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Jigmet Chorol
Northern Shoveler
Migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Tsokar, Hanley
Wetlands - Rivers, Streams, Lakes and Ponds
Diet
Aquatic Invertebrates and Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Chuchot Gongma
Stanzin Angchuk
Migratory Bird
Location
Tsokar, Hanley
Habitat
Wetlands - Rivers, Streams, Lakes and Ponds
Diet
Aquatic Shoots and Tubers
Northern Pintail
Tsering Phunchok
Spotted and Sketched by Riglam Model School
Pallid Scops Owl
Migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Hanley
Trees
Diet
Small Rodents, Small Birds and Lizards
Spotted and Sketched by Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Dazes Dolma
Non-migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat
Hills and Marshes
Diet
Insects, Spiders and other Invertebrates
Red-billed Chough
Spotted and Sketched by Government Higher Secondary School, Sakti
Thinles Angmo
Rock Pigeon
Non-migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat
Hills and in Human Habitation
Diet
Seeds
Spotted and Sketched by Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Sonam Yangdol
Ruddy Shelduck
Migratory Bird
Location
Tsokar, Hanley
Habitat
Wetlands - Marshes, Streams, Rivers and Ponds
Diet
Aquatic Shoots and Tubers
Spotted and Sketched by
Nima Dolma
Government Middle School, Sankar
Rufousbreasted Accentor
Non-migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Western Ladakh
Bushes and Scrubs
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government Higher Secondary School, Sakti
Jigmet Chostop
Migratory Bird
Location
Hanley
Habitat
Tree Plantations, Bushes and Scrubs
Diet
Rodents and Birds
Saker Falcon
Tonsal Nima
Spotted and Sketched by Government Boys' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Tickell’s Leaf Warbler
Migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Hanley
Tree Plantations, Bushes and Scrubs
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government Higher Secondary School, Sakti
Thinles Angmo
Tree Pipit
Migratory Bird
Location
Spituk, Shey, Chuchot, Hanley
Habitat
Marshes and Trees
Suhail Ahmad
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Chuchot Gongma
Tufted Duck
Migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Tsokar, Hanley
Lakes and Ponds
Diet
Aquatic Shoot
Spotted and Sketched by Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Jigmet Chorol
Upland Buzzard
Migratory Bird
Location
Tsokar, Hanley
Habitat
Hills and Marshes
Diet
Small Mammals, Birds, Lizards, and Insects
Spotted and Sketched by
Padma Chosdon
Government Higher Secondary School, Sakti
White Wagtail
Migratory Bird
Location Habitat
All over Ladakh
Wetlands - Rivers, Streams, Marshes, Lakes and Ponds
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government Middle School, Sankar
Jigmet Gyalson
Chukar Partridge
Non-migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat
Cultivated Fields, Hills
Diet
Predominantly vegetarian as adults; chicks are fed mainly insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government Higher Secondary School, Sakti
Padma ChosdonHoopoe
Migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat
Marshes, Bushes and Scrubs
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government High School, Phyang
Lakpa Dolma
Migratory Bird
Location
All over Ladakh
Habitat Trees, Bushes and Scrubs
Long-tailed Shrike
Diet Insects
Spotted and Sketched by Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Dazes Dolma
Pallas's Gull
Migratory Bird
Location Habitat
Tsokar, Hanley
Rivers, Lakes and Ponds
Diet
Fish, Insects, and Small Mammals
Spotted and Sketched by Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Dazes Dolma
Testimonials
I recently had the pleasure of joining a six-day birdwatching tour that was amazing. We visited many beautiful places in Leh and in Changthang. In Hanle, Padma Gyalpo Sir led us to a clearing near the monastery, where we saw the most beautiful Pallid Scops Owl. It was very tiny and I will never forget that sight. The six-day bird-watching tour was an unforgettable experience. It allowed me to connect with nature. Thank you Navikru and Wipro for giving us the opportunity.
Jigmet Gyalson Government Middle School, Sankar
We became part of the bird watching tour organized by Navikru Eco Foundation. We had been doing different Wipro earthian activities. This tour added more to our knowledge, as we were getting hands-on experience. It was an incredible experience, as for the first time I visited the Puga hot springs, Tsokar and Hanley. We were able to see so many different species of birds. It taught us so much about the natural world around us. Seeing the state bird of our region, the Black-necked Crane, was amazing.
Dazes Dolma
Government Girls' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Testimonials
Throughout the journey, I witnessed a wide variety of bird species in their natural habitats. This was an experience that I will never forget. I was really amazed to see the Eurasian Eagle Owl. Its eyes were big, and it was really beautiful up in the hills of Hanley. We had to struggle to watch it. However, Padma Gyalpo Sir really made it easy for me. I cannot wait to continue my exploration of the natural world.
Rinchen Dorjey Government Boys' Higher Secondary School, Leh
I thoroughly enjoyed this bird-watching trip. I loved following Padma Gyalpo Sir and looking at birds in the spotting scope. We had our binoculars throughout the journey. I would keep looking for different birds and ask Padma Gyalpo Sir about it. I also enjoyed making the drawings of each bird at the end of the day. I had long discussions with Padma Gyalpo Sir. I enjoyed looking at the pictures of the birds on his camera. I am waiting for the Navikru Eco Foundation to organize more such events and give me the opportunity to become a part of it.
Nima Tonsal Government Boys' Higher Secondary School, Leh
Organizin T
This booklet is published as a part of Wipro earthian Program, in collaboration with Navikru Eco Foundation.
Supported by
Wipro Foundation is a public charitable trust set up for corporate citizenship and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Wipro
Wipro earthian is a program of Wipro Foundation