Hyderabad: In a groundbreaking stride for environmental awareness and education, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, launched the Pocket Guide on Birds of Telangana, conceptualised and compiled by Hyderabad Birding Pals (HBP).
The Hyderabad Birding Pals Core Committee presented the pocket guide to the Deputy Chief Minister and explained the importance of the pocket guide spreading awareness about birds of Telangana to future generations.
The Deputy Chief Minister congratulated HBP and expressed his happiness over their awareness efforts and objective in spreading nature education across the state.
Harikrishna Adepu, president of HBP, highlighted the significance of Telangana’s first pocket guide on birds at this scale since statehood, calling it an essential educational tool. “This guide will foster a deep connection with nature and inspire citizens to engage with Telangana’s unique biodiversity,” he shared, emphasising its potential to reach a diverse audience, from young students to nature enthusiasts and forest personnel.
The pocket guide, which features 252 important bird species, will be distributed free of charge to government school and college students across Telangana.
Adepu highlighted the guide’s comprehensive coverage, from forests to wetlands, detailing each bird’s diet, migration, and conservation status. Former DGP Tejdeep Kaur Menon, a ‘Conservation Champion’, who spearheaded urban lake rejuvenations expressed HBP's unique role in promoting birdwatching, calling it a role model for all other states.
She praised HBP’s tireless efforts, highlighting how the group’s 490 plus free birdwalks have raised public awareness and encouraged conservation. The HBP core committee stated that reaching out to the public to improve awareness on birds and bird watching has been a priority for the group, and this is an achievement as it can inculcate the habit of nature observation among students, sharpening their skills early on.
They added that over 30 wildlife photographers from HBP have contributed their images to this pocket guide, which was very resourceful in perfecting it to its final form. HBP expressed deep gratitude for the government’s support in promoting birdwatching and conservation education, particularly among youth, and underscored the guide’s importance in preserving Telangana’s natural heritage.
