A Bird Watching program was held on 9th May, 2017 in Anzali Wetland Environmental Education Center, located in Selke Wildlife Refuge.
This program has been implemented in cooperation with Education Organization (EO) Gilan, Department of Environment (DOE), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for 24 girl students grade sixth of Imam Hassan Asgari Primary school from Pirbazar with 3 others instructors from this school.
At the beginning, the purpose of this workshop was explained to the students and they have received some information about the EE center in Selke, the implemented EE programs in this center in cooperation with EO and other related organizations and the attached facilities including Bird Hide, Bird Watching Tower, the Wooden Path, etc. in addition Mr. Watanabe, Environmental Education Expert from JICA Expert team emphasized on necessity of Environmental Education to conserve the environment, with the special focus on wetlands.
Afterward, the participated students visited Bird Hide and Bird Watching Tower, and they could observed many birds summering in Anzali Wetland, and the residential birds by using the binoculars and telescopes. While observing the birds, Ms. Yousefzadeh the Environmental Education Expert from DOE Gilan, and Mr. Watanabe Environmental Education Expert from JICA Expert Team explained the current situation of Anzali Wetland, and the bird species. Now is bird migrating season when birds migrate between nesting and wintering sites. Many birds are passing the Anzali Wetland as stopover site. Also many birds have already arrived at Anzali Wetland to breed. Regarding the birds spring season, it was a good opportunity for students to observe summering and residential birds including Great Reed Warbler, Black-winged Stilt, Whiskered Tern, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, and Purple Swamphen and the other birds in Selke Wildlife Refuge.
They also observed flowers structure by using microscope.
In addition “Life in Anzali Wetland” DVD was shown to students, and they had good involvement in introducing “Wetland Ecosystem” booklet. Both materials were prepared by the Anzali Wetland Ecological Management Project phase I, and still are very useful for study the Anzali Wetland.
