Thattekkad bird sanctury is a very important bird sanctury in kerala situated in Eranakulam district.
Our nature camp in 2011-2012 is to here which is known by the name of Salim Ali.
On 17th November our team(26 students & 5 teachers) started the journey at 9 am.At 11 am we see
kerala kalamandalam and reached thattekkad at 3.30 pm.One nature camp is not only the trekking.It has many levels.
Fist level is inaguration.We are very lucky to that we got Dr.R.Sugathan sir to inagurate our camp.He worked 16 years
with Salim Ali.
Our first duty is self discribtion.All said about their name,house,hoby,ambition and for what we have came to thattekkad.
Next camp convenor Sivadasan sir divided us into three groups.First group SALIM ALI wanted to write about five birds .
Second group(including me) HORN BILL got trees and third group CEYLON FROGMOUTH got medicinal plants.
After dinner first day ended.
Next day morning at 8.00 am our trekking started.First our eyes stukked at the trees and plants.
Next at the birds.To watch birds,we divided to two batches.First team(including me) reached on the top of a rock.
10-20 hill maina flied three times around us.It was an amazing scene.
There are four type hornbills.We see Malabar grey horn bill(Ocyceros griseus) on the top of a tree.We can see the changes
arond that we endered to semi ever green forest.We can see the very rare bird ceylon frogmouth.Ceylon frogmouth!
It wondered all of us.It has the color of dry leafs.We can only see malabar giant squirell in animals.But we are very lucky
that we can see many birds including hornbill,Rose winged parakeet,Grackle,Emaraled dove,Oriole,Paradise fly catcher.
In the way,we reached a watc tower.But it is not very taller.We can see the mysterious beauty of forest in around of the watch tower.
In the bank of periyar we can see the pugmark of porcupine.After a 15 minutes walk we reched the top
of a hill.We can see the bridge near our doormitory.We can see Munnar hills in one side and Malayatoor hills in the other side.
Truely it is a 'view point'.then we walk through a teak plantation.At 1.00 pm we reached doormitory.After the lunch,it is time to
talk with Dr.Sugathan sir.He talk us about the history of thattekkad.In 1933-s Salim Ali visit this place and knew about its biodiversity.
Class was in the outside of doormitory.So we can see paradise fly catcher and Malabar grey horn bill on the branches of trees.
At night Jey sir lectured us on the jobs in the forest department.
Last day of the camp we went to see inter pretation centre.We also see Medicinal plants garden and some animals .
Concluding cerymony is inagurated by Sugathan sir. At last all of us got tree saplings .
''We go to forest not merely to see wild animals.
Such journeys should be for imbibing the wild
and free feeling of wilderness''
This quoting is absalutely correct in the view of our trip.