JUNGLE BOOK 81, Sarjan Society, Athwalines, -395007, , . Contact: +91 9825057678, 61-2227596 www.natureclubsurat.org Prepared by: Ms. Tejal Surati

Nature Club Surat JANUARY 2021

In This Issue Kids at Eco Farm Nature Camp  Forward  SPCA Data  Activities from October to December 2020  Statistics of last three months’ activities  Statistics of calendar Year 2020  Ongoing Projects  Acknowledging Volunteers  Activity

Forward:

Greetings ! As we are coming out from Pandemic, NCS too commenced its outdoor activities. This quarter was more focused on awareness-education & capacity building. City of Surat requires more green spaces, NCS is working to change the policy with eminent citizens of city. This journey is difficult and long. Therefore, more people/NGOs from all quarters are needed to join hands. Our deer breeding project is progressing nicely. Our Nirmala wetland conservation project (Gavier Lake) and development of Animal Hospital @ Eco farm requires funds for maintenance and new establishment. We request everyone to support whole-heartedly for those projects. Ashish Vakil

Chairman: Shri Rajen Shah President: Shri Snehal Patel Visiting hours for Nature Museum every Saturday between 5 – 7 pm at 81, Sarjan Society, Athwalines, Surat – 395007 SPCA DATA

Call Attended by NCS Volunteers OCT to DEC 2020 Birds 95 For Injured Birds Mammals 2 & Snake Rescue - call SPCA

Reptiles 430 (+91) 9825480908

Total 527

memorable experience. A Discussion was held Capacity Building Program for Guides at about few points to be kept in mind by visitors as National Park well as guides, while visiting any National Park .

With such amazing diversity of Dangs, there's 1. Not disturbing resting animal. always a responsibility to preserve it. Keeping that 2. Do not use flash or torch light while in mind, along with South Dang photographing. Forest Division organized a Capacity Building 3. Not disturbing animals’ habitat. Program for the tourists guides at Vansda National 4. Maintain a safe distance from animals while Park. The program included information about the photographing them. flora and fauna diversity of 5. Do not feed animals as the food you feed and also a session on tourist interaction and might not be their regular diet and could cause management. The program was organized on 8th digestive issue or even death. October 2020 at Kilad Campsite. The main intention behind organizing this program was to 6. Don’t leave your trash behind. make sure the visitors visiting the national park get 7. Maintaining as much silence as possible (no a chance to witness and learn about the amazing speakers or music and partying). biodiversity of the park and have a fruitful and 8. Do not spit chewing gums (it is dangerous for birds and animals ). 9. Make your visit as sustainable as possible. 10. Do not take rides on animals .

Core Committee members: Shri Ashokbhai Parekh and Shri Ashish Vakil BE MEMBER OF OUR NGO - THE NATURE CLUB SURAT  9979730036

Statistics of last three months activities Welcoming Life (OCT to DEC 2020) Members of NCS No. Activity No. of Joined Between OCT to DEC Programs 2020

Name 1 Eco Friendly house visit 1 Avkash Chevli 2 Gavier night trek for volunteers 1 Aum Thakore 3 Guide training at Vansda national park 1 Kiara Patel Ayush Begani 4 Plastic west collection at Chopati, Surat 1

 If you are willing 5 Dang Camp with cleaning drive 1 to Join or if you need regular update 6 Dog first aid training at Gavier 1 then please message 7 Gavier lake visit 4 on our WhatsApp => with teachers of Gajera School number - => with morning walkers group 9979730036 => with doctor’s group => with Bharthana group 8 Butterfly walk - project Surat 1 9 Tree Plantation 2 1. Bhatpore 2. Citylight 10 Volunteers training program 1 11 Veterinary training program at Vansda 1 National park

Improve your knowledge about birds (Types of beaks)

Image from social media Vice Chairman: Vice President: Shri A.G. Chokhawala Shri Akshay Joshi Gavier is Best during Winter

Glimpse of Winter Visit at Gavier Lake Winter is the most fascinating period for Gavier lake – The Nirmala Wetland Conversation Project. Lots of migratory birds visit Gavier Lake and be there for entire winter. This makes the lake more fascinating. Duck such as Common Pochard, Northern Shoveler, Gadwal Duck, Lesser Wisteling Duck, Cormorant, Darter, Bronz winged Jacana, Egrets, Comb Ducks, Spot Billed Duck, different kind of Herons, as well as Periphery birds such as Kingfisher, Green Bee Eater, Barbet, Myna, Bulbul, Weaver Birds, Tailor Birds, Bablers, Robin, Fly catchers and many more birds one can sight here.

Lots of visitors take advantage of nature during these days. Specially Kids and Photographers enjoyed lot. During these three months many visitors visited the lake.

“ TO BE WITH NATURE IS A KIND OF MEDITATION...DO TRY” Eco Farm Camps

When kids interact with animals, they develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and care for others.

At our one-day Eco Farm Camp, our motive is to eliminate the fear of animals in children. Kids are usually scared of the things that are unknown to them. While many kids are reluctant to touch animals initially, they go for it when they see their peers being a sport about it

Eco Farm camp were arranged on 21st Nov 2020 and 25th Dec 2020.

Kids enjoyed the camp with adventure activities such as artificial rock climbing, Burma rope, art and craft, team games and many more.

They had healthy food as well as learn to clean their vessels by their own.

“CONSERVE NATURE’S HERITAGE”

the US sponsored this batch of 31 kids to Eco Farm. It was a fun filled day with lots of new Eco farm visit and camp for learning and adventure :) We feel extremely Government School kids happy to be able to serve them and be a part of their lives. Even if it’s just for a day, hope the learning and memories stay forever. Cleaning Drive at Dang

NATURE CLUB SURAT conducts clean up drives in Dang Forest to clean and preserve our natural heritage.

It is our sincere request to always take your trash back and USE REUSABLE CUTLERY. THE PLASTIC NEVER VANISHES FROM THE FACE OF OUR PLANET WITHOUT CAUSING HARM

During Diwali, We collected approximately 500 kg of Fund Raising event – “December to trash and brought it back to the city and disposed in an appropriate manner. Remember”

“A

Butterfly walk : Arranged at Gavier Lake on “December to Remember” a fundraising event was 25th Oct 2020 organized on 24th December with the objective of providing our local birds a home and a safe place to raise babies. The event was very successful and very much enjoyed by youngsters. Christmas Celebration with Special Kids On 27th December, we celebrated Christmas with under privileged kids. Our very old member from Advisor-Botany : Dr. Minoo Parabia Advisor-Zoology : Dr. Raju Vyas “SAY NO TO SINGLE USE PLASTIC” Activity report for the Calendar year 2020

No. of No. Activity Program

1 Eco Farm Holiday Camp 7 2 Eco Farm Visit 5 3 Holikadahan Awareness Program 1 4 Eco Farm Camp for Kids 20

5 Rescue Training 1 6 Kite Festival Awareness Program 2

7 Snake Awareness Program 2 8 Global Warming Awareness Program 1 9 Talk show 1 10 WTI workshop at Pune 1 11 Cloth bag distribution program 1 12 Kalkaliyo Publication 1 13 Asian Bird Counting 1 14 Participation in Exhibition 5

15 Uttrayan Bird Release 1 16 World Wetland Dy Celebration 1 17 World Wildlife Day Celebration 1 18 World Sparrow Day Celebration 1 19 Veterinarian doctors training program at DBC 1 20 Dang Full Day Camp 2 21 Touch and Feel Program 2 22 Gavier Lake visit 1 23 Bingo Activity 1 24 Art & Craft Workshop At Gavier 1 25 Animal Feeding Program on Daily Basis 35 26 Wildlife Webinar 32 27 Tree Plantation 14 28 Dog First Aid training session at Gavier 1 29 Big Butterfly month celebration online events 5 30 Butterfly walk at Gavier 2 31 Brown to Green Project 1 32 Eco Friendly House visit 3 33 Night trek for volunteers at Gavier 1 34 Dang campsite cleaning program 1

Core Committee members: Mr. Goldie Gandhi, Mr.Hiren Patel, Mr. Abhi Vyas “SAVE BIRD - SAVE NATURE” Glimpses of some Ongoing Projects: Contact Us:

 Deer Breeding project - Vansda Give us a call for Deer shifting from Kankariya to DBC. more information :

81, Sarjan Society, Parlepoint, Athwalines, 385007

Contact No:

(+91) 9825-057-678

Deer Breeding project in association with Forest Department and (+91) 9979-730-036 sponsored by UPL/SRSAT is progressing very well. Injured Bird & Snake  Nirmala Wetland Conservation Project Rescue (S.P.C.A) Finally, after being closed for more than six months, we are now open to visitors. Gavier lake [Nirmala Wetland Conservation (+91) 9825-480-908 project] is always been one of the best places in Surat for being close to nature. Whether it's bird watching, Butterfly watching, or Email: just doing Nature photography, Gavier Lake is the only place that comes to mind. natureclubsurat81 @gmail.com We are also conducting a Butterfly walk on Sunday at Gavier Lake. So what are you waiting for! Visit us at Gavier lake on the Visit us on the web at upcoming Sunday. Don't forget to take all the necessary COVID www.natureclubsura precautions while visiting. t.org

Follow us on Social  Acknowledgment of untiring efforts of Volunteers: Media: We are thankful to all the volunteers who are working hard during Instagram, this pandemic COVID-19. Special thanks to the volunteers who Facebook & have worked for camel rescue and rehab work. They are our CORONA Warriors. We are also thankful to our donors. Twitter: @natureclubsurat Activity: Play Nature Bingo during Gavier Lake – The Nirmala Wetland Project nature walk, Tick mark the birds you observed.

Let’s Green Learn Bee Lesser Whistling DRONGO Eater Cormorant Duck

Small Blue King- White Throated Bronze winged Purple Morhen fisher Kingfisher Jacana