Nature & Bird Study Program by Rajasivam M

Learn birds through observation, features, habitats & behaviour • journaling-led • ethical and engaging learning.A two-month, online Young Birders Course inspired by Misha Bansal’s Young Birder framework. Learners study bird features, habitats, behaviour, sounds, life cycle, and conservation through guided online classes and safe, home-based outdoor activities. Students maintain bird journals with sketches and observations and complete a small guided final project. Ideal for ages 8+ and beginners. No prior knowledge required.

Duration & Format

• Duration: 2 months (8 weeks)
• Sessions: 4 sessions/week — Class 1…Class 32 (three concept sessions + one outdoor-activity/journal review per week)
• Session length: 45–60 minutes
• Mode: Online live sessions + guided home outdoor activities and journal reviews
• Assessment: Final project (journal + presentation)
• Certificate: Certificate of Completion on successful project submission

Who should join: Ages 8+, beginners, school students, young nature enthusiasts, parents seeking safe, activity-driven nature learning for children.

What you’ll get: Live concept sessions, guided outdoor activities, journal feedback each activity session, final project guidance (topics, data gathering, report & publication guidance), and a certificate.

Fee: 5000 INR

FULL COURSE PLAN — (CLASS 1- 32)

Week 1 — Foundations & Getting Ready

Class 1 — Introduction to Birds — what makes a bird unique; purpose of bird study; course overview.
Class 2 — Why Birds Matter — ecosystem roles, food webs, simple conservation ideas.
Class 3 — Birdwatching Ethics & Safety — non-invasive observation rules, child-safe outdoor practice.
Class 4 — Outdoor Activity & Journal Review 1 — start bird journal: recording date, time, habitat, weather; first local checklist task.

Week 2 — Nature Journaling & Observation Skills

Class 5 — Nature Journaling Basics — sketching, concise note-taking, using simple observation codes.
Class 6 — How to Observe — quiet watching, using sight and sound, noting behaviour cues.
Class 7 — Using Field Aids — simple local bird charts, phone camera basics, responsible photo-taking.
Class 8 — Outdoor Activity & Journal Review 2 — teacher reviews journals and gives feedback; refine observation checklist.

Week 3 — Habitats & Where Birds Live

Class 9 — Habitat Types — urban, garden, wetland, farmland, forest (what to look for in each).
Class 10 — Habitat Features & Bird Adaptations — linking beak/feet/shape to habitat and diet.
Class 11 — Safe Local Field Spots — how to choose safe spots near home for observation and what to record.
Class 12 — Outdoor Activity & Journal Review 3 — habitat sketch and habitat–bird list submission; teacher feedback.

Week 4 — Identification by Features

Class 13 — Shape & Size — silhouette recognition, comparative size cues.
Class 14 — Beaks, Feet & Feeding Clues — beak shapes, feeding specializations and quick ID rules.
Class 15 — Plumage, Wing & Tail Patterns — spotting field marks, seasonal plumage basics.
Class 16 — Outdoor Activity & Journal Review 4 — identification exercise: 5 local birds (sketch + 3 ID cues each).

Week 5 — Bird Behaviour I (Feeding & Movement)

Class 17 — Feeding Behaviour — foraging styles, pecking, probing, gleaning; linking to diet.
Class 18 — Flight Styles & Movement — flapping, gliding, hovering, walking patterns and what they tell us.
Class 19 — Daily Activity Patterns — dawn chorus, feeding peaks, roosting basics.
Class 20 — Outdoor Activity & Journal Review 5 — behaviour notes task: observe feeding/flight of one species.

Week 6 — Bird Sounds & Social Behaviour

Class 21 — Basics of Bird Vocalisations — songs vs calls, alarm, contact, territorial notes (intro).
Class 22 — Flocking & Social Behaviour — benefits of flocking, types of social groups.
Class 23 — Interpreting Behaviour — simple hypotheses: “why did it do that?” (encouraging scientific thinking).
Class 24 — Outdoor Activity & Journal Review 6 — sound-listening task (record or note calls) + feedback.

Week 7 — Life Cycle & Nesting

Class 25 — Nest Types & Nesting Materials — cup, platform, cavity, mud nests; non-invasive observation rules.
Class 26 — Eggs, Chicks & Parental Care — stages of development and how to record ethically.
Class 27 — Seasonal Behaviour & Migration (intro) — basic migration idea and safe observation during seasons.
Class 28 — Outdoor Activity & Journal Review 7 — nest-materials study / nest-site observation (non-invasive).

Week 8 — Conservation, Sharing & Final Project

Class 29 — Threats & Conservation Basics — habitat loss, pollution, simple child-friendly actions.
Class 30 — Citizen Science & Sharing Data — where to share sightings (local clubs, apps), data privacy and permissions.
Class 31 — Final Project Preparation — topic choice, data plan, journal polishing, presentation tips.
Class 32 — Final Project Presentation & Course Close — student presentations, feedback, certificate issuance.

FINAL PROJECT — TOPICS, DATA GATHERING & PUBLICATION GUIDANCE

Project aim: A short, guided neighbourhood bird study that teaches scientific observation, data organization and responsible sharing.

1) Project Topics (choose one; instructor will help refine)

• My Neighbourhood Bird Checklist (common birds & frequency)

• Terrace / Garden Bird Visitors (daily/weekly presence)

• Feeding Behaviour of One Common Bird (what, when, how)

• Nest Materials & Nesting Choices (non-invasive study)

• Bird Calls & Daily Activity Pattern (short sound-notes study)

• One Bird — Complete Profile (sketch, habitat, behaviour notes, short story)

2) Data Gathering Guidance (simple, child-friendly protocol)

• Observation sheet fields: Date, Time, Weather, Location (safe spot), Habitat type, Bird species (or description), Count (number seen), Behaviour observed, Sketch/photo reference, Notes.
• Duration & sampling: Recommend 8–12 short observation sessions (10–20 minutes each) spread over 2–3 weeks for a simple study. For checklist projects, record observations across mornings/evenings for variety.
• Recording evidence: Encourage sketches, short voice notes, and a few photos (if safe and respectful). Photos optional and must be non-disturbing.
• Ethics & safety: Never touch nests, approach nests cautiously (no photos that disturb), always observe from a distance, parental permission & supervision advised for young children.

3) Data Organization & Analysis (child-friendly)

• Convert notes into a simple table: Date | Time | Species / Description | Count | Behaviour.
• Make a simple frequency chart (how often species seen) — instructor will provide a template.
• Identify 2–3 interesting observations and write a short explanation (why it matters).

4) Report & Presentation (publication-lite)

• Short report structure: Title, Objective, Methods (how observations were done), Results (table + 2–3 visuals: sketches or simple chart), Observations & Interpretations, Conclusion, Conservation Note. Instructor provides a one-page report template.
• Presentation: 3–5 minute online presentation with sketches or photos and what the student learned.
• Optional sharing: With parental consent, students can be guided to share sightings on a public citizen-science platform or a class blog/WhatsApp group. Instructor will advise on platform choice and privacy. (Sharing is optional; teacher will coach on permissions & ethical sharing.)

5) Instructor Support for Publication & Next Steps

• Help convert the report into a short blog post or class newsletter entry.
• Guidance on simple visuals (tables & charts) and writing captions.
• Intro to citizen-science reporting basics and data ethics (what info to omit for safety).
• Suggestions for further projects and how to continue bird journaling.