02/06/2026
One of the reasons I conduct bird walks is to meet interesting people and learn from their perspective.
Every walk brings together a mix of participants. Some are experienced birders. Some are holding binoculars for the first time. Everyone has a different story and something new to share.
Last weekend's bird walk at Muthanallur Lake in Bangalore, organized with the Ataavi Bird Foundation, brought me a participant I was not expecting.
Two-year-old Ivaan became the youngest participant ever on my bird walks.
His mother, Pooja, has spent a lot of time around wildlife and nature. She wanted her son to experience the outdoors at a very young age.
To be honest, I had my doubts. The family lives about 25 kilometres away, and a 6 AM bird walk is a challenge even for many adults.
But on the morning of the walk, they arrived before me.
With 17 people registered, 6 dropped out at the last minute. Ivaan did not.
I have always enjoyed being around children and usually manage to become friends with them quickly. A few chocolates helped break the ice, and before long Ivaan was comfortable with me.
The walk lasted nearly 3 hours, which is not easy for a toddler. Yet he handled it remarkably well. As the morning progressed, his curiosity took over. Seeing others use binoculars, he too wanted to look through them.
He mimicked the call of a peacock to let me know there were peacocks nearby. He pointed out the leaves and their different colors. He interacted freely with other participants and became a cheerful part of the group.
It is moments like these that motivate me to conduct bird walks.
They are not only about birds. They are about creating a connection with nature. And when parents make the effort to introduce their children to the natural world at such an early age, it gives hope for the future.
If a two-year-old can spend a Sunday morning discovering nature instead of staring at a screen, we are probably doing something right.
