From Crayons to Community: Children Draw Birds of Kinnaur and Call for Your Stories

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Imagine taking a moment to pause the next time you hear the gentle flutter of wings among the pines or catch a glimpse of a vibrant shape flitting between the apple trees. Would you be able to identify the bird, or would you find yourself curious about what name it carries in your local language? The birds of Kinnaur have left footprints not just on the land, but in our stories and memories. Yet with time, some of these trails are vanishing, washed away by changing lives and landscapes. And what does it mean, especially for our children, when we lose not just a species, but the stories that gave it life in our imagination?

Troubled, we began spending time with children. Listening, sharing and discovering what still lives on.  

Over the past year, we have supported bird walks and creative engagements with young people to spark curiosity and care for Kinnaur’s rich birdlife. In collaboration with Mahesh Ronseru, a birder and conservation enthusiast from Kinnaur, we’ve been working to engage school students in birdwatching, nature education, and conservation awareness. Mahesh's dedication to documenting birdlife in the region has brought to light several rare and previously unrecorded species such as Eurasian Coot , Tufted Duck, Brown Accentor, Eurasian Goshawk, Cinereous Vulture, European starling, Brahminy starling, Water pipit, Eurasian wigeon and many more.

This journey took a step further at the Kacha Launch Fest, which celebrated our magazine’s latest volume and created space for dialogue on Kinnaur’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. A highlight was the joyful children’s drawing session on the birds of Kinnaur.

With bright sketches taking shape across the tables, crayons passing around, and heads bent in concentration, what emerged was a heartfelt expression of how deeply children connect with the nature around them.

In the lead-up to the fest, we invited students from three schools that have already been part of this growing journey: Government Senior Secondary School Reckong Peo, Government Senior Secondary School Kalpa, and Little Angels Public School. These schools had previously participated with us in bird walks, storytelling sessions, and hands-on activities, laying a strong foundation of familiarity and excitement.

We kept the drawing session at the fest open to all the children who wanted to participate, and it was especially heartening to see children from other schools join in after hearing about the event through word of mouth. Their spontaneous participation was a testament to the growing interest and awareness about Kinnaur’s birdlife.

A total of 21 children impressed everyone with their creative drawings, with some participants just seven years old.

From meticulously detailed illustrations of Himalayan Monal to imagined conversations between birds and people, the artworks reflected not only the children’s creativity but also their emotional and cultural connection with their environment. Some drawings recalled community stories or personal encounters with birds, others highlighted conservation concerns or reflected habitats observed during walks.

Each drawing was unique, and together they spoke volumes about how young people are seeing, remembering, and cherishing the biodiversity and heritage of Kinnaur. And this is only the beginning.

The children’s artwork is part of something much bigger. Our dream of creating Kinnaur’s very first bird book! This exciting initiative, supported by Conservation Grants Western Himalayas 2024, is about so much more than listing birds. It’s about bringing together the songs, memories, and bits of knowledge that add layers to the Kinnaur’s unique avian world.

And the next chapter begins with you. If you have a tale about a bird to share, reach out to us. Your stories will help bring the bird book to life and preserve Kinnaur’s living heritage for future generations.

Students at our collaborating schools are already taking a flight of imagination through their drawings and words. In the coming months, we will continue nurturing this journey alongside the children through bird walks, storytelling circles, and art sessions guided by the lead illustrator of the book, Tanisha Negi. 

Eventually, some of the children’s evolving work will be featured in the book itself.

We invite everyone in Kinnaur to join us on this journey. The heart of our project is built from the stories, memories, and local bird names you share. Every recollection from the community and every drawing from a child weaves together a vibrant tribute to the birds and heritage of Kinnaur.  

Please enjoy these wonderful drawings by our young students. Let them remind us that true care for the environment begins with listening to children and sometimes seeing the world through the imaginative eyes of a bird brought to life in colours.