Helping Children Discover Bengaluru’s Lakes – A New Book from PNLIT

We are happy to share that PNLIT will soon be bringing out an illustrated children’s book about Bengaluru’s lakes, authored by PNLIT trustee Arathi Manay.

Creating awareness about lakes and urban water is an important part of the Trust’s work, and this book has been supported using funds earmarked for awareness-building initiatives.

Aimed at children aged 8–11, it introduces young readers to how Bengaluru’s lakes were created, how they were connected to capture and store rainwater, and why they remain so important to the city even today. With simple explanations and engaging illustrations, it helps children understand and appreciate this remarkable water system. The book is possibly among the first children’s books to introduce Bengaluru’s historic lake network to young readers.

We plan to release the book in early April, and copies will be available shortly thereafter.

If you would like to receive a copy and/or know of a school, library, or group of children who may benefit from it, please fill in the link below.

https://forms.gle/5MA82jEyKpASToZL7

Do feel free to share this with schools, libraries or anyone else who may find it useful.

A Fulfilling Saturday Morning at Puttenahalli Lake

About 15 committed citizens came together this Saturday morning to clean the surroundings of Puttenahalli Lake. The drive was organised by The Indian Ploggers Army (Nagaraj and team) along with PNLIT, with the support of Greater Bengaluru Authority (South). GBA Marshal Manohar was present to encourage and participate in the effort. 

Approximately 40 kg of trash was collected - including glass bottles, plastic bottles, discarded clothes, pooja items, and numerous toffee, chocolate, biscuit, and chips wrappers.

The sight of the collected waste was a stark reminder of how everyday litter adds up, and also of how collective action can make a difference.

We ended the walk by taking a pledge to take responsibility for the waste we generate, a small promise with powerful impact. Grateful for citizens who show up, care, and act.

The same spirit can extend to our streets, parks, and every public space we use. Clean surroundings are not someone else’s responsibility - they are ours. With a population as large as ours, it is unrealistic to expect the municipality to manage the growing volume of waste alone. If each of us takes ownership of the waste we generate, our neighbourhoods can transform - one street, one park, one lake at a time.

Photographs taken during GBBC 2026 at Puttakere

Following our report of the bird count on 14th Feb 2026, sharing with you all some of the pictures taken by two ardent nature photographers.

  

Vasant Joshi: Pics taken during the bird count on 14th Feb 2026. Gear is Nikon D850 with 500 mm AF-S Nikkor Prime Lens:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/F6tkHScsy8cb81Co7  

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Grey heron with catch

Jay Govind: Pics taken during her solo bird count on 15th and 16th Feb 2026:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RERrdqesu1pRoWW97

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Cormorants galore

Click on the respective album links to see more of the amazing ecosystem at Puttenahalli Lake and visit the lake to see for yourself.

Join the Lake Cleanup-Plog 21st Feb 2026

A citizen initiative along with The Indian Ploggers Army and GBA

Date & Time:

Saturday 21st February, 2026

7:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Location: Puttenahalli Lake, JP Nagar 7th Phase

Starting point: Gate next to Samskruti Hall near MLR Centre, Brigade Millennium Arch

GBBC 2026 at Puttenahalli Lake (Puttakere)

As part of the global Great Backyard Bird Count 2026, a morning bird walk was conducted on 14th February at Puttenahalli Kere, led by Dr. Ishita Das (sincere thanks to her).

We had over 30 participants including students from Jain University and residents from the lake area and beyond. 

 approx 2 hours (roughly 7 - 9 a.m.)
 0.8 km (Traveling count)
 37 species recorded

From wetland specialists to tree-top songsters, the lake was buzzing with life. The observations indicate a healthy mix of resident waterbirds and common urban woodland species.

 Indian Spot-billed Ducks & Coots (suggest healthy open water habitat)

 Gray-headed Swamphens & Little Grebes (reflect stable marsh habitat)

 Cormorants across three species (indicates healthy fish availability)

 Herons, Egrets & a Glossy Ibis (reflect shallow water zones and abundant aquatic life)

 Brahminy Kites circling overhead (suggests an active predatory layer within the lake ecosystem)

 Three species of sunbirds (reflect nectar availability in flowering trees) 

  Insectivores such as Greenish Warbler and Ashy Prinia (suggest active foraging habitats)

View the checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S300236476

A. Waterbirds & Wetland Species

• Indian Spot-billed Duck – 4
• Eurasian Coot – 3
• Gray-headed Swamphen – 7
• White-breasted Waterhen – 2
• Red-wattled Lapwing – 2
• Little Grebe – 6
• Little Cormorant – 18
• Great Cormorant – 1
• Indian Cormorant – 25
• Glossy Ibis – 1
• Little Egret – 1
• Medium Egret – 1
• Indian Pond-Heron – 5
• Gray Heron – 6
• White-browed Wagtail – 2

B. Raptors

• Black Kite – 1
• Brahminy Kite – 3

C. Tree & Urban Woodland Birds

• Greater Coucal – 1
• Asian Koel – 2
• White-throated Kingfisher – 3
• White-cheeked Barbet – 2
• Rose-ringed Parakeet – 1
• Indian Golden Oriole – 2
• House Crow – 1
• Asian Tit (Cinereous) – 4
• Common Tailorbird – 1
• Ashy Prinia – 1
• Red-whiskered Bulbul – 1
• Greenish Warbler – 1
• Indian White-eye – 1
• Common Myna – 3
• Jungle Myna – 1
• Pale-billed Flowerpecker – 3
• Purple-rumped Sunbird – 3
• Purple Sunbird – 2
• Loten's Sunbird – 1
• Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) – 3

Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2026 at Puttenahalli Lake (Puttakere)

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2026 will be held worldwide 13-16 February, bringing together people across countries to observe and record birds as part of a massive citizen science effort. 

As part of this global event, PNLIT is hosting a community birding session in the Puttenahalli Lake (Puttakere) neighbourhood, and we warmly invite you to participate. Over 120 species of birds have been identified at the lake by different people over the years, so let us see how many we spot ourselves.

Read more about GBBC worldwide on https://www.birdcount.org/about/ and India on https://birdcount.in/counts/gbbc/. This event is registered on both the websites.

Our Event Details
Date: Saturday, 14th Feb 2026
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. (free to join anytime and continue beyond that as well)
Starting point: gazebo at Puttenahalli Lake

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KrAh4e9nbSwpe2bU6 

Main guide: Dr Ishita Das

You may join this WhatsApp group for updates (optional):  https://chat.whatsapp.com/HZzya8fsrmxLsZE4V640xH?mode=gi_t

Participants will join the PNLIT birding group to identify and count birds found around the lake and neighbourhood. No prior experience in birdwatching is required — this event is suitable for beginners, families, students, and nature enthusiasts of all ages. Please bring water, cap, binoculars, cameras, paper and pen to record observations.

Participants are also encouraged to observe birds beyond the lake neighbourhood and record sightings from other locations during the GBBC period.

After the full GBBC event, GBBC will issue downloadable certificates to all participants who record lists with ebird/ Merlin for GBBC.

We look forward to celebrating Bengaluru’s rich birdlife together while contributing to a global conservation effort.

Interactive walk at Puttenahalli Lake - 18th Jan 2026

Conducted by Biome in association with PNLIT

Do you know how does Puttenahalli Lake talk to the groundwater?

Lakes contribute to groundwater recharge. Our Puttenahalli lake (JP Nagar 7th Phase) is an example of water circularity where treated wastewater from Southcity apartment  is let into the lake and it recharges the groundwater contributing to the yield of borewells in the neighborhood.

Join us to know the groundwater aspect of our lake.

Followed by the discussion on
Sustainable Water Management practices in adherence with the bylaws.

We’ll start at 7:30 a.m. No registration required. Just land up at the gazebo @ Puttakere.