Trashi Yangtse Nature-Bhutan

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘴𝘦: 𝘈𝘳𝘵, 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, & 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩

United in the heart of Trashiyangtse, we are a collaborative force dedicated to empowering our youth through creative expression and environmental stewardship. By bridging contemporary art, outdoor recreation, and hands-on conservation, we nurture a generation that is locally rooted in Bhutanese values and passionately committed to protecting our global natural heritage.

𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝

Birdwatching is often seen as a quiet hobby, but research in neuroscience suggests it engages the brain in ways that go far beyond relaxation. Paying close attention to birds, including their movement, colour, calls, and behaviour, activates systems in the brain responsible for focus, memory, and perception. Over time, this repeated engagement appears to shape how the brain processes information.

Studies comparing experienced birdwatchers with beginners offer useful insights. Brain imaging has shown that skilled birders tend to have more efficient neural organization in regions linked to attention and visual recognition, particularly within the frontoparietal network. These areas help us filter details, stay focused, and interpret what we see. The findings suggest that regularly identifying birds, often in complex and changing environments, trains the brain to become more precise and selective in how it handles visual information.

When birdwatchers encounter unfamiliar species, the brain becomes even more active. Functional MRI scans indicate increased activity in areas associated with object recognition, working memory, and pattern analysis. These are the same systems engaged when learning demanding skills such as music or language. Birdwatching, in this sense, is not passive observation. It is a form of active learning that strengthens neural pathways through repeated use. Each attempt to distinguish similar species or recall a call adds to this process.

There is also growing interest in how birdwatching may support long term brain health. Activities that combine learning, attention, and memory are known to build what researchers call cognitive reserve. This reserve helps the brain remain resilient as it ages and may delay the effects of cognitive decline. Birdwatching fits naturally into this category. It requires constant comparison, such as noticing differences in plumage, tracking flight patterns, and linking sounds to species. These tasks challenge the brain to stay sharp. Some large scale studies suggest that regularly engaging in such mentally stimulating activities is associated with a lower risk of dementia.

Beyond cognition, birdwatching also influences emotional well being. It brings together three factors known to reduce stress, which are time in nature, light physical movement, and often social interaction. Even short sessions can make a difference. Research involving university students found that those who spent time observing birds reported greater improvements in mood compared to those who simply walked outdoors without a specific focus. The act of looking and listening with intention appears to deepen the mental benefits of being in nature.

Interestingly, the presence of birds themselves seems to matter. Studies in urban environments have shown that seeing or hearing birds can lift mood for several hours. This effect remains even when other natural elements are considered, suggesting that birds may trigger a particular kind of positive response in the brain, possibly linked to our long standing connection with natural soundscapes.

Taken together, these findings position birdwatching as more than a leisure activity. It is a practical, low cost way to engage the brain, support emotional balance, and maintain cognitive health over time. Whether done in a forest, a schoolyard, or from a window at home, it offers a simple routine that aligns closely with how the brain learns, adapts, and restores itself.

References:

https://wildlife.org/birding-is-good-for-the-brain/

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/feeling-chirpy-being-around-birds-is-linked-to-lasting-mental-health-benefits

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-01/science-finds-birdwatching-improves-mental-wellbeing/103877810

https://news.ncsu.edu/2024/05/birdwatching-can-help-students-improve-mental-health-reduce-distress/

https://mymodernmet.com/birdwatching-boosts-brain-health/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-modern-brain/202603/what-birdwatching-can-do-for-your-brain

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2516604-birdwatching-may-reshape-the-brain-and-build-its-buffer-against-ageing/

Photographs: Tandin Wangdi

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲!

Thank you for helping it reach this stage, but the journey isn’t over yet! ⏳ There’s limited time left, and we need your vote again to support .

Remember, there are 𝟭𝟲 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 in the challenge, and our 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻 needs your vote to shine!

Every vote fuels conservation. Hurry, voting is open for a limited time-cast your vote and help our heron soar!

Click here to 𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗘 👉https://uproar.indianapoliszoo.com/

𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 Earth Hour 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐝: Earth Hour 2026 at Trashiyangtse: Birdwatching, Nature Walk, & Nature-Wildlife Art Programme at Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

Thank you to all our partner organisations for this wonderful opportunity to organise these outdoor activities doing something 'Beyond the Lights Off' in celebrating 20 years of impacts of global participation and environmental advocacy.

Through this outdoor exploration our young children and youth learned that anyone, anywhere, can contribute, making the hour a catalyst for ongoing environmental actions.

Feature story of the programme coming soon. Please stay tuned.

Earth Hour
WWF Bhutan
Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation
Bhutan Foundation
Bhutan Ecological Society
Bhutan For Life

Thank you Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary.

Photographs: Tandin Wangdi, Phuntsho, Tshewang Rinzin Tiger

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆!

Over 50 young explorers from Trashi Yangtse are discovering the wonders of Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary today.

Home to over 270 bird species, Trashi Yangtse offers an exceptional outdoor classroom for environmental learning.

Organized with the Trashi Yangtse Nature Club, this immersive nature walk, held every year to celebrate Earth Hour, gets children and youth outdoors, sparks a love for nature, and nurtures the next generation of guardians for Bhutan’s rich biodiversity.

Are you doing something for the planet this Earth Hour? Let us know in the comments!

𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤: 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛

My relationship with nature began not in a classroom or with a curriculum guide, but in the streams of my village, where cold water numbed my feet and curiosity animated my experiences some three decades ago. During my childhood, often spent without my parents, the natural world became both companion and teacher. My friends and I explored by turning over stones to find crabs and catfish, lingering in forests without supervision, and learning through direct engagement, wonder, and discovery. Those were the days when outdoor play was our only recreation after school.

Before I understood terms such as “biodiversity” or “conservation,” I already sensed a profound connection to the living world. Reflecting on these memories today, it is evident that many children now lack such experiences, a phenomenon described as “nature-deficit disorder”. In an era dominated by screens and technology, where learning is frequently limited to digital and indoor environments, my early freedom in nature highlights the urgent need for children to reconnect with the earth. This is where we truly belong to: free, outdoor, and nature.

I have fond memories of how it eventually developed over the years as I grew older. This connection intensified in the early 2000s when I first encountered National Geographic and Animal Planet at a neighbour’s home, which inspired enduring curiosity. A cheetah chasing an antelope in the African savannah grassland unfolding before us on a box TV was something totally mesmerising for a 8 year old village boy.

Joining my school’s Nature Club in 2005, while in grade 7 (which was supported by the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN)), affirmed this curiosity and gave purpose to my observations of nature. The club’s initial projects centered on the Bumdeling valley, a distinctive habitat for the Black-necked Crane. Efforts to protect this area provided students with a sense of purpose and demonstrated the tangible impact that focused attention on nature can have in preserving local biodiversity. I still remember the first nature club camping of 2005 at Bumdeling like it happened last weekend. The clearest memories I have are of long walks, outdoor cooking, and the adults working together to clear debris from the crane roosting site.

Looking back, choosing biology in high school was a pivotal decision. My fascination with the natural world deepened in the eleventh grade when I first picked up Darwin’s "Origin of Species". While nature dominated my teenage thoughts, reptiles were my true obsession.

Everything changed, however, during my sophomore year of college. That was when I discovered something even more remarkable: birds.

My interest in birds became more focused in 2012 during a trek to Drakey Pangtsho in Paro, guided by a beloved friend and college English lecturer. Observing a male Fire-tailed Sunbird feeding on alpine rhododendron blossoms revealed that birds are not only beautiful but also indicators of the health and vulnerability of our environment. It was the first bird I ever watched intentionally at close range. I can replay in my mind the iridescent fiery red bird and intensely eye-catching male Fire-tailed Sunbird for thousand times. It was such an auspicious avian gem to watch and know its name firsthand in my maiden birding trip some fourteen years ago.

This realization continues to inform my approach to nature education in school.

In March of 2015, I began teaching at Trashi Yangtse Lower Secondary School and assumed responsibility for coordinating its Nature Club. Each Wednesday during "Club Period," I transition from teacher to guide and co-learner, engaging with students in shared discovery. It is a pure joy to see my students marvel at the documentary movies of Birds of Paradise from distant Papua New Guinea during Wednesday club sessions.

To assist other educators in facilitating similar transformations, I have developed a straightforward, replicable framework: recruit, equip, and celebrate. Recruitment involves sparking student interest through engaging activities or guest speakers who highlight the wonders of nature. Equipping students with essential tools such as binoculars, journals, and field guides enables hands-on exploration. Celebrating their discoveries regularly fosters a culture of recognition and continuous learning. This approach supports teachers in becoming guides who inspire curiosity and environmental stewardship.

My mornings often begin with students’ eager questions:

“Sir, I saw a woodpecker. It was brown and red. Is it a Crimson-breasted Woodpecker?”

“There was a long-legged brown bird near the pond. What could it be?”

“I found a nest with blue eggs near our village chorten.”

“My grandfather killed a green snake. Was it venomous?”

These questions are not distractions; they represent authentic learning opportunities. They motivate me to read, observe, and remain humble. At times, I question whether I am teaching my students or if they are teaching me, as they continually remind me to recognize the ‘ordinary magic’ present in the natural world.

Focused attention is central to all activities in the Nature Club. We engage in hiking, camping, journaling, sketching, photography, and poetry. For younger students, journaling emphasizes patience and observation rather than perfection. Activities such as waiting for a bird or sketching a leaf foster mindfulness and presence, rather than rote memorization.

Some of our most meaningful experiences occur outside of scheduled activities. For instance, last spring, during a two-day trip to ShaBrak Art and Wildlife Homestay in Yangtse, six students and my daughter explored forest trails, cooked over a fire, listened to owls, and searched for the rare Yellow-rumped Honeyguide. Discovering this species near cliff hives transformed abstract knowledge into a tangible and exciting experience. This shared experience will live on to be a pleasant teacher-student memory for a long time.

Nature reveals strengths that may not be apparent in traditional classroom settings. For example, Karma, a student who faces academic challenges, excels in outdoor environments by identifying bird calls, butterfly patterns, and plant species. His enthusiasm upon observing the national butterfly, Ludlow’s Bhutan Swallowtail, reflected a sense of belonging and competence. For students like Karma, the Nature Club provides an environment in which they can thrive.

Art plays a central role in our activities. Through nature art exhibitions, butterfly workshops, and climate literacy sessions, students engage with environmental issues both emotionally and intellectually. In a recent climate literacy workshop, art enabled students to understand, question, and envision solutions that extend beyond factual knowledge.

Education beyond classroom walls is essential. Learning happens anywhere: forest paths, streams, campfires. Presenting on nature journaling to students reinforced our collective goal: to help students discover joy and meaning in learning, rather than focusing solely on examination outcomes, and realize they’re part of something precious and interconnected.

In the context of climate change, fostering curiosity is imperative. By encouraging children to observe, inquire, and care, we impart not only scientific or artistic knowledge but also essential life skills. This approach cultivates awareness, compassion, and responsible stewardship. To translate awareness into action, we begin with simple, practical steps. For example, organizing a weekend mini-outdoor walk in outskirts of town can foster a sense of adventure and discovery. Alternatively, initiating small but regular birdwatching programmes with students and their families can transform concerns into active engagement. Such activities enable meaningful participation in environmental stewardship.

Let us collaborate to expand nature clubs, foster curiosity, and empower the next generation to care for our world. Beginning today, each of us can contribute by reaching out, guiding, and inspiring within our own communities.

𝘉𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘪, 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪 𝘠𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘴𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 / March 2026

Earth Hour

When was the last time it snowed in Trashiyangtse valley?