Students view birds at Oilem Tollem
Students from Class 9 B of St Joseph’s Educational Institute, Chandor had a thrilling experience participating in the bird watching programme at Lagoa de Cima or Oilem Tollem in the village, which has been notified to be declared a wetland.
The programme was organised jointly by Goa State Wetland Authority and Forest Department in preparation for the Bird Festival being observed from January 26 to 29. The Chandor-Cavorim Biodiversity Management Committee assited at the local level.
The students – many of who had seen the lake for the first time – were very excited and eager to come again. “I saw so many peacocks for the first time today,” said Vedant Naik while Reagan Crasto said the binoculars provided helped him to see some birds which were not visible to the naked eye.
“I shall ask my parents to come with my family here when they are off as this place is truly beautiful,” said Pundalik after checking if there were any restrictions to visiting the lake.
Another student Tasmiya Shaikh proudly stated that she saw 11 birds and was thrilled that she saw a Purple Heron. “I did not know what this beautiful bird was till I was told its name,” she said.
Mabel Menzes and Mandar Bhagat from the Goa Bird Conservation Network helped the students in identifying the different birds and also aided them in using the binoculars.
Blue Tailed Bee-eater, Cotton pygmy goose, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Western Marsh Harrier, Asian Wooly Neck Stork, Black headed Ibis and Bronze Winged Jacana along with a flock of Lesser Whistling Ducks were some of the birds spotted by the students.
Wooly Necked Stork was also seen at the lake while some birds flew away disturbed by the presence of the crowd
Teacher Teresa Furtado who led the students was very enthused with the students reaction and her suggestion to have school excusions to the lake was welcomed with a loud cheer.
Chandor-Cavorim Sarpanch Estefanio Dias, panchayat member Derrick Braganza Pereira and the Biodiversity Management Committee Chairperson J D’Silva accompanied the students along with Tiago da Silva former President of Cavorim Communidade who owns the lake.
Sarpanch Estefanio Dias expressed the panchayat’s willingness to clean the road leading to the lake provided the Cavorim Communidade gave them the NOC.
“We shall provide the map of the road leading to the lake as provided in the Communidade records,” said former President of Cavorim Communidade Tiago da Silva.