By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy
Cortalim, April 2, 2024: St Joseph Vaz College in the western Indian state of Goa has observed the international April Fools Day on a different note.
The botany department of the college at Cortalim in association with the Rotary Club of Madgaon Midtown celebrated April 1 as April Cool Day to care for birds and animals who suffer during summer.
“The program was to create awareness among students to take care of birds and animals during summer,” said Father Bolmax Pereira, assistant professor at the college and parish priest of St Francis Xavier Church, Chicalim.
Father Pereira’s students said the program was an eye opener for them.
“Let’s not fool ourselves any more. Rather, let us provide a water bath and food to birds and animals and cool the rising temperature for them,” said Prajwal Sawant, general secretary of the college’s students council.
He thanked the botany department for organizing the “wonderful interaction” on April Cool Day when the world is celebrating April Fools Day. “Now we know how the birds are suffering for food and water during this summer season,” he added.
The April Cool Day “taught us how birds and human are interconnected. By keeping a bird baths or a bowl of water for birds, we can let them live longer and cooler in the summer heat,” said Muskan Kumari, president of the college’s Nature Club.
She said although Goa has more than 400 species of birds, she hardly knew 20.
Anezia Barreto, a first-year student of Bachelor of Science, said the interactive session made her realize that birds too face problems during summer and how humans can help them by doing small things like introducing a bird bath at homes as the temperatures soar.
“The April Cool Day has helped me know the Dos and Don’ts of introducing a bird bath in my locality. It has inspired me to do my little bit for our chirpy feathered friends,” she added.
Varad Parob, another student, said the interactive lecture taught her that providing water and food to birds in summers is a kind and heartfelt initiative. “We learned practical ways to support local avian populations. It’s a fulfilling experience that empowers individuals to make a positive impact on their community.”
During the program, Raghavendra Suryavanshi, founder of Susbio solutions, explained the various problems birds face during summer and how one all can solve it.
One of them is the bird bath that can be used as a source of water by the birds.
He also demonstrated to the students how to use a bird bath, along with the do’s and don’ts one must know while using it.
“The bird bath must be 2-3 inches and should hold 4-5 liters of water. It should not be made of metallic material that tends to heat the water in the sun. The sun’s reflection by metal will keep birds away,” Suryavanshi said.
He wants the students to use clay material or alternatively recycled plastic and change the water every third day. The bird bath should be kept in shade and away from human interference, he added.
Some grains or fruits could also be kept.
Rotary President Nilesh Loliencar distributed bird baths to the students and the staff who volunteered to install them at their homes.
“It’s a cool initiative by Rotary Club of Madgao Midtown and our department of Botany. Our students learnt something important this summer. No bird around us should die of thirst with this tiny effort by us,” said college principal Maria A Fonseca.