Important Environment Days to Celebrate || National and International Days

Important Environment Days 

24th January

International Day of Education

Education gives us knowledge of the world around us and changes it into something better.  Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.


2nd Feb.

World Wetland Day

Students may be called for discussion on What is wetlands, Importance of wetland, Ramsar Convention, Managing wetlands and Biodiversity in wetland.


28th Feb.

National Science Day

It is necessary to highlight the role of science in the protection of the environment. This day should be taken as a platform to put forward the message.


3rd March

World Wildlife Day

The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the dangers that threaten the survival of many animals around the world. Students may explore and list endangered animals.


20th March

World Sparrow Day

This day is observed to protect these little birds and conserve their houses. Students may arrange for the availability of food grains and water for sparrows.


21st March

World Forestry Day

Celebrate World Forestry Day by doing activities such as the planting of trees and highlighting the urgency to increase the green cover.


22nd March

World Water Day

The decision to celebrate this day has been taken recently as drinking water sources are fast depleting. The world must wake up to the problem and begin conserving it.


23rd March

World Meteorological Day

Everyone has to be reminded that weather is an integral part of the environment.


7th April

World Health Day

This day is celebrated with the objective of raising global awareness on current health issues around the world. Students may explore the main facts about health care systems.


18th April

World Heritage Day

Environment includes not just the natural surroundings but also the manmade ones.


22nd April

Earth Day

Discover Earth Day activities for students including games, art projects, crafts and other Earth Day ideas. Let them find Earth Day information, activities and events to remind them of the importance of green living and sustainable lifestyles.


22nd May

International Day for Biological Diversity

It focuses on to spread knowledge and awareness about the dependency of food system, nutrition, health on biodiversity and on healthy ecosystems.


5th June

World Environment Day

This day is celebrated to spread awareness, to encourage people to take action and to protect the environment. You can make a difference – individual actions, when multiplied, can make an exponential difference to the planet !


8th June

World Oceans Day

World Oceans Day is celebrated to remind everyone about the major role that oceans play in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe.


17th June

World Day to Combat Desertification & Drought

This Day is observed to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. Discuss on drought and desertification, its implications on society and ways to minimize the problem among the students.


1 – 7th of July

Vanamohatsav

Students may be encouraged to share on importance of this vanamohatsav week, its history and let them do some exercise on biodiversity & plant as many as tree.


11th July

World Population Day

World Population Day aims to increase people’s awareness on various population issues such as the importance of family planning, including gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights. Let the students share their information through competitions.


26th July

International Mangrove Day

This Day is observed to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem and to promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses.


16th September

World Ozone Day

This day is observed to spread awareness among people about the depletion of Ozone Layer and search possible solutions to preserve it. Share information about atmosphere, ozone, CFC, acid rain among students. Let them invite for participation in competition. They can go for awareness campaign on eco-friendly products.


1 – 7th of October

Wildlife week

Let us share information about types animals, habitat, extinct, endangered species, food web, food chain, natural cycles among students and importance of each species in ecological balance. Students can go to local nearby park and help visitors as guide.


4th October

Animal Welfare Day

We can discuss on importance of animals. Activities like giving unused foods, put a bin of water in the campus, make artificial nest in trees etc.


13th October

International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

Due to a change in the environment there has been an increase in the number of natural disasters. Efforts have to be taken to reduce these disasters.


2nd December

National Pollution Prevention Day

Share information about types of pollution, about reduction, laws, local issues and finding solution from students. Promote ecofriendly practices like ban of polythene, use of cycle or by walk, plantation, water conservation practices.


5th December

World Soil Day

This day is observed to highlight soil's importance on Earth. We need soil for basic survival - food and energy. This day is for to bring the attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources.


14th December

National Energy Conservation Day

This day is celebrated to highlight the importance of energy consumption and its use in our day-to-day life, its scarcity and its impact on sustainability of global eco systems.

AARI Quiz on National Birds, July 2021. | Score more than 50% and receive Free Certificate!!!

Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI), organizes various quiz and webinar sessions to make the students and researchers engaged in informative and useful activities during this pandemic situation. 

AARI Quiz on National Birds, concentrates on national birds of various countries. By participating in this quiz, you can self-evaluate yourself on this particular topic and you may learn some new information.

all participants who secure more than a 50% score will receive the printable e-certificate.

Your certificate will be shared via google drive after finishing the quiz kindly check your drive for the certificate, if you are not receiving your certificate within 20 mins, means you have failed the quiz.

Good Luck

This Quiz is Closed 

Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI), conducts a series of International Bioscience webinar series and Quiz programs to improve student's knowledge on various biological topics.
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The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia புள்ளிச் சில்லை (Lonchura punctulata), Chennai wetland area | Birds of Medavakkam Marshlands, Chennai city birds

புள்ளிச் சில்லை - Lonchura punctulata 

    The Scaly-breasted Munia is a small-sized bird. Attractive small songbird of grasslands, gardens, fields, and agricultural areas. Native to India and Southeast Asia, with introduced populations scattered elsewhere around the world. Typical adults dark chestnut-brown above, white below, with the fine dark scaly pattern on belly; some populations duller brown. Juveniles plain brown all over with slightly paler underparts. Typically found in small flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of munia.

The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) at Medavakkam near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)

    In Chennai wetlands, we have observed Scaly-breasted at different times, in February 2021 the juvenile Scaly-breasted munia was seen near AARI. then we have not noticed any Scaly-breasted munia near AARI. but in June 2021 the flock of Scaly-breasted munia was crossing AARI in the evening time from west to east, in the morning also they may cross but we have not seen them. in morning time these four Scaly-breasted Munia used to visit the bush in front of AARI. 

The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) at Medavakkam near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)

புள்ளிச் சில்லை என்பது சில்லை எனப்படும் திணைக்குருவி வகையைச் சேர்ந்த சிட்டுக்குருவி அளவிலான ஒரு பறவை. இது ஆசியாவைத் தாயகமாகக் கொண்டது. இது 1758-இல் லின்னேயசால் அறிவியல் முறைப்படி பெயரிடப்பட்டது.

The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) at Medavakkam near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)

Scientific classification 

Kingdom:    Animalia
Phylum:           Chordata
Class:            Aves
Order:            Passeriformes
Family:            Estrildidae
Genus:            Lonchura
Species:            L. punctulata
Binomial name: Lonchura punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758)

The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) at Medavakkam near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
    
        This munia eats mainly grass seeds apart from berries and small insects. They forage in flocks and communicate with soft calls and whistles. The species is highly social and may sometimes roost with other species of munias. This species is found in tropical plains and grasslands. Breeding pairs construct dome-shaped nests using grass or bamboo leaves.

The species is endemic to Asia and occurs from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines (where it is called mayang pakíng).

Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) Chennai wetland area | Birds of Medavakkam Marshlands, Chennai city birds



Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) at backyard of Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)

Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)

This bird was observed since March 2021, but it was very rarely seen, that too while flying away. They stay inside the bushes, if we go near to bushes they fly away... the earlier observations were from Medavakkam Lake. During those time they simply fly away and escape, I was not able to notice its characters properly hence I could not identify. This bird is very new to me so I need to check all its characters to identify it because I have never seen it before. this was happening till May 2021.

In may 2021 that miracle happened this bittern straight away reached the bush in front of our home. that is the time I could see it properly. when I saw the bill (peak) of this bird I recognized as it is a bittern, later found it was Cinnamon bittern. a couple of bitter was visiting our place to stay protected, which is the same place where Moorhen was hatched their chicks. But now White-Breasted Waterhen has occupied the place, hence after trying for two three days this bittern left that area.

Even though it was visiting nearby we could not take clear pictures because it was full of bushes, but on one day evening, we could observe a bittern in an open space. I was called by the AARI admin to take pictures and immediately I went and clicked a lot of pictures. it was giving a nice pose. for the first and last time, it didn't fly away after seeing me. it was literally seeing me by turning its neck but didn't fly. our recent observation confirms that they stay at the backside of the AARI building, where birds like Bronze-winged Jacana, The Eurasian Moorhen, White-breasted Waterhen, Grey-headed Swamphen have bred. I hope this bittern couple also will breed over there, it is in the center of wetland, filled with two Palm trees, Typha, and some thorny trees, The bush is thicker and safer except for the issues with snakes. 
Here are some pictures Cinnamon Bittern (செங்குருகு) for you to see...

Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) at the backyard of Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: Elaya Perumal)

Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) looking at me weirdly from the backyard of Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: Elaya Perumal)


யாரும் இல்லை; தானே கள்வன்;
தான் அது பொய்ப்பின், யான் எவன் செய்கோ?
தினை தாள் அன்ன சிறு பசுங் கால
ஒழுகு நீர் ஆரல் பார்க்கும்
குருகும் உண்டு, தான் மணந்த ஞான்றே.
கபிலர் (குறுந்தொகை 25)
In the above-mentioned Poem, the great poet Kabilar mentioned the characters of Bittern... 

Thank you all...

Stay Home Stay Safe

Help Nature to Recover...

World Environment Day Quiz, June 2021 | Score more than 50% and receive Free Certificate!!!

 On the mark of World Environment Day (June 5), the  World Environment Day Quiz Program conducted AARI and Chennai Wetland Biodiversity blog. Every year World Environment Day is celebrated across the globe to mark the importance of nature and the environment. Hence AARI conducts an environmental Quiz on this day. All the participants, who secure more than 50% will receive a printable certificate. 

Your certificate will be shared via google drive after finishing the quiz kindly check your drive for the certificate, if you are not receiving your certificate within 20 mins means you have failed the quiz.

This Quiz is closed 


Try other Quizzes too

Peltophorum pterocarpum / copperpod பெருங்கொன்றை Chennai Wetland Biodiversity | Plants of Perumpakkam marshland | Trees of Chennai city

 Peltophorum pterocarpum (commonly known as copperpod, yellow-flamboyant, yellow flame tree, yellow poinciana or yellow-flame). this plant is very common in most areas of Chennai, in some places it grew as an avenue tree. inside Chennai Forest areas (Like IIT, Guindy National Park, Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Nanganallur Reserve forest) also this tree has a wide distribution. A very common tree in Chennai.

 Peltophorum pterocarpum at Perumbakkam Wetland area near the Bird observation Point (Photo Credit U Elaya Perumal)

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Peltophorum

Binomial name Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K.Heyne

 Peltophorum pterocarpum Inflorescence (Photo Credit U Elaya Perumal)


Leptotes plinius plinius (Fabricius, 1793) – Asian Zebra Blue (வரிக்குதிரை நீலன்) | | Chennai wetland area | Butterflies of Madipakkam & Medavakkam Marshlands, Chennai city wetlands biodiversity

Lepidoptera > Papilionoidea > Lycaenidae > Polyommatinae > Polyommatini > Leptotes.

Asian Zebra Blue butterfly at Medavakkam Marshland (Photo credit U Elaya Perumal)

      This Asian Zebra Blue is the Indian subspecies of Zebra Blue/  Plumbago Blue(Leptotes plinius). this species is widespread in Chennai wetland areas. they were observed at all study areas as of now covered. In 2020 we had a butterfly watch program at Madipakkam lake where these blues were in more population. In 2021 they were observed frequently near Annakkili Amma Research Institute and Medavakkam Lake. Let us know if you notice this butterfly in your area.

Asian Zebra Blue butterfly at Medavakkam Marshland (Photo credit U Elaya Perumal)


Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Leptotes
Species: L. plinius

Sub-species:  Leptotes plinius plinius (Fabricius, 1793)


Asian Zebra Blue butterfly at Medavakkam Marshland (Photo credit U Elaya Perumal)

Asian Zebra Blue butterfly at Medavakkam Marshland (Photo credit U Elaya Perumal)
Asian Zebra Blue butterfly at Medavakkam Marshland (Photo credit U Elaya Perumal)


AARI World Wetland Day Quiz, 2022 conducted by AARI and Chennai Wetlands Biodiversity Blog || Publish your articles and books with us www.aaribioscience.com

 Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) Chennai Wetland Biodiversity Blog wishes you all Happy World Wetland Day 2022 AARI organizes vari...