Couple launch ‘Gubbachigondu goodu’ in schools

MANGALURU: Nithyananda Shetty Badyar and his wife Ramya have launched a campaign ‘Gubbachigondu goodu’ (shelter for birds) in various government schools of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Though Gubbachi means sparrow in Kannada, this campaign is about protecting the local birds. In the area surrounding their home in a village in Bantwal, they have kept several mud pots offering water and grains to the visiting birds.
For the past two years, they have been visiting schools and spreading awareness on the need to conserve birds and the importance of a green belt around. Nithyananda Shetty, agriculturist and an employee at a private firm said, “The changing landscape is one of the main reasons for birds vanishing from our surroundings. Gone are the days when sparrows built nests in our home. The traditional tiled homes and paddy fields have been replaced by concrete multi-storey buildings. Pigeons have vanished from old school buildings. To create awareness among children on birds, we have visited 151 schools so far and conducted workshops. After every workshop, we donate a mud pot to the school. During summer, we expect children to fill it with water for birds to quench their thirst. The need of the hour is to conserve local species and attract migratory birds,” he said
Nithyananda and Ramya have kept mud pots in their home and offer nearly one kg grains to birds’ every day. No bird is caged. They have documented bulbuls, sunbirds, cranes, pigeons, peacocks, owls, bats, kingfishers, robins, eagles and kits woodpecker from their backyard. They have planted local species of flowering and fruiting trees and have distributed pots to nearly 850 houses.
Whenever the couple travel they make it a point to spread awareness on bird conservation. “We have also shared pamphlets among locals and shared our knowledge on conservation in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir We have also recorded people’s opinion during our travel,” Nithyananda said.
The couple recently launched ‘Pakshi Paata’ (lesson on birds) on Sundays. They visit local villages and conduct sessions on bird conservation to a small group of locals and children. The aim is to have ‘Gubbachi goodu’ in every house, says Nithyananda.