CHANDOR: Students of St Joseph’s Educational Institute, Chandor, had a thrilling experience at a bird watching field trip at Lagoa de Cima or Oilem Tollem in the village, which has been notified to be declared as a wetland.
The students – many of whom had seen the lake for the first time – were eager to visit 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 as this place is truly beautiful,” said Pundalik while Tasmiya Shaikh proudly stated that she saw 11 birds and was thrilled that she saw a Purple Heron.
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.
Teacher Teresa Furtado who led the students was very enthused with the student’s reaction and her suggestion to have school excursions to the lake was welcomed with a loud cheer.
The programme was organised jointly by the 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 assisted at the local level.
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 Comunidade, which owns the lake.
