Upcoming Nature Walk by the Indian Music Experience (IME) on 23-April-2022

 A walk in nature makes us admire the creation and often arouses our curiosity. Let us understand and uncover the etymology of bird names in a scientific yet different way by walking in and around Puttenahalli Lake.

This nature walk will raise questions and encourage healthy conversation that will increase our knowledge about birds from a larger perspective.

Date: 23rd April

Timings: 4:30pm
Fee: INR 150

Registration link:  https://forms.gle/yDq69tuevBjh6iUu5

Kindly register early as limited seats are available.

Nature Walk at Puttenahalli Lake

We are delighted to tell you that Mr. Samuel John and Ms. Chetana Purushotham, co-founders of https://www.spidersandthesea.com/ will be conducting a nature walk for beginners at our Puttakere on 26th and 27th March 2022. 

This is part of their series called Urban Nature Walk to make people aware of the wonderful natural treasures in our city. In this instance, in our own neighbourhood lake!

Duration of the walk, participation fee and contact details are given in the poster below. Please note that they will take only 10 participants each day on a first come first served basis. Avoid disappointment by booking your place early!

Reports on the first Citizen Science Programme

Our first Citizen Science Programme held on 13th February 2019 in collaboration with the Earthwatch Institute India and IISc was a very satisfying one indeed. We had less than our target of 30 participants, but all of them were deeply engrossed in the Nature walk led by veteran bird watcher and educator, Mr. J. N. Prasad which was followed by a session on water conducted by two researchers from IISc. 

Nature walk

Given below are reports by two participants. 

By Ms. Narita Chengappa, second year journalism student, Mount Carmel College 

On the 13^th of February, 2019, the Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust organised a Citizen Science Programme for the community with the objective of increasing environmental awareness, primarily with regards to the lake and its surrounding flora and fauna.

The event began with a nature walk around the lake, led by Mr. J. N. Prasad who informed the participants about the avian diversity of the lake and its surrounding neighbourhood. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the habits of birds such as the egret and the purple swamp hen, refute myths about the mynas and discuss pigeon population problems.

Following the walk, Lepakshi Raju and Harini Santhanam of the Indian Institute Of Science along with Surbhi Sharma from Earthwatch Institute India conducted tests on the lake water, checking for parameters such as pH level and conductivity of the water and then allowed participants to do the same. They also educated participants on how to check the nitrate and phosphate levels of the water. Following this, the two researchers from the Indian Institute Of Science handed out questionnaires for their survey regarding the attitudes of the common public towards lakes and their maintenance.

This repeated and continuous effort by the PNLIT has been a major help in raising awareness about the unfavourable treatment of lakes in and around the city. The Puttenahalli Lake, in particular, has benefitted from their proactive contributions. They have been vital benefactors to Bangalore’s lake saving movement and one can only hope that their endeavours will continue to rub off on the citizens of this city, making them more aware of the way they can also do their part.

Water testing

By Mrs. Vijayalakshmi Kutty, South City resident 

The well-attended Citizens Science Programme, held on the 13th of February, at the Puttenahalli lake premises was a pleasurable morning at our pretty neighbourhood lake with a principal thrust towards spreading awareness in the community of conserving and preserving our valuable city lakes. It was led by a well- anchored team of researchers form IISc and Earth Watch India, JN Prasad (a well-known naturalist) and head of PNLIT, Usha Rajagopalan.

Usha Rajagopalan began with an immersive talk on the history of the decade long persistence and commitment put by her team to save the dying lake. This was categorised by a display of photographs taken at different times of the lake’s passage. She spoke of the cleaning of the lake bed, the technicalities involved in channelling the rain and ground water into the lake, the planting of water purifying aquatic plants, the engineering of floating islands to improve water quality and provide bio-diversity habitat and the replenishing of the lake by treated water from the apartment complex. Her talk had a crucial underlying message - the sustenance and preservation of the lake rests on the shoulders of the local community.

Then, JN Prasad, the birder, took us on a languid walk and into the magical world of birds - the hundreds of rushing swallows high in the sky, who had arrived from Europe, the magnificent Brahminy kites swooping low, a sedentary grey heron perched on an island, the territorial common coot, the cormorant’s fishing skills, the white egrets whose feathers had once donned ladies' hats.

Finally, after a refreshing tea break, we had a presentation by the researchers of Earthwatch India and IISc, followed by the testing of the lake water with the active participation of the attendees.

The parameters included the pH level, the acidity and nitrogen content and turbidity. When the results were out there was jubilation! The water in our Puttenahalli Lake was “good”! After more pleasant reflections and deliberations we dispersed after a well-spent morning. 

We hope to have more such experiential learning events for residents in the future. 
Photos by Ms Susheela Urs, PNLIT Manager

Report on the 20-Jan-19 nature walk @ lake

On Sunday 20th January 2019, Dr. Kaustubh Rau led a group of 30 adults and 10 children on an extremely informative and enjoyable nature walk around the Puttenahalli Lake. We had given the children a sighting chart on which they could mark the birds and trees they spot. With the fishermen at work, the bird count was low but still the group was able to see more than 20 species, get to know the names of some trees and climbers and hear little stories about how some of them came to be planted. Before we realised, we had taken two hours to walk one half of the perimeter! All in all, this Sunday was one that was truly well spent! 
- Sapana, PNLIT Events Coordinator

Here's what some of the participants had to say :



Thank you for organising such a wonderful event. I had actually registered  my 7 year old son and was the accompanying adult. But it was me who totally enjoyed the walk as it was the first time I was going to see birds and trying to recognise them. It was really nice to try and find out different types of birds -getting back to childhood inquisitive nature, look around with eyes and ears open - it was a forgotten activity for me. Also I was happy to see different types of trees around - trying to identify the names of each tree. I have walked across the lake at least 50 times but never bothered to look and understand the things around me. I have decided to take it forward and get to know more about each plant and birds around. My son and I have planned to do a project after we get to know more about our lake.

Thanks for creating the awareness in me. And thanks for your constant constructive discussion and detailing to my son - he enjoyed bird watching and he was very happy as he was taught how to see birds and identify the birds. His favourite was the kingfisher. 
- Dr. Lakshmi Priya



My husband Gopal and I were happy to see that so many kids with their parents, youngsters and of course nature lovers like us had turned up for the walk on a Sunday morning.

Dr. Kausthub Rau took us around explaining all the interesting details of the birds, their habitat and migration etc. It was a delight to spot the birds and discuss their colour size and feeding habits. A lot of interesting facts! Kids were excitedly noting down the details of the birds and the names of the trees on their sighting chart. The young adults seemed to know so much, we're very impressed.

PNLIT members Usha, Divya and Sapana also told us about the various trees planted at the lake, their origin and flowers. It was amazing to learn about the floating islands. So much to learn!

Wish more residents in and around the lake join in for these interesting events. Admire all the efforts PNLIT folks are taking in preserving our lake and the flora and fauna. 
- Vasanti



I truly enjoyed the nature walk last Sunday. It provided an opportunity to me to know some of the birds visiting the lake and the exotic trees so carefully nurtured by PNLIT. The enthusiasm and keen involvement of the kids was so infectious and delightful.
On the whole it was a morning well spent!
- L. Ramaswamy

Nature Walk 20-Jan-2019

Our first event of the year is here!

Take a nature walk around the lake with an avid birder and biologist Kaustubh Rau and see what birds and insects call their home.

When - 20th January 2019 (Sunday) from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Where -  Puttenahalli Lake
For - Adults and children (children below 8 yrs need to be accompanied by an adult)
What to bring - Your own binoculars, water bottles, caps

This is a FREE event, but you need to register the name(s) as we have limited seats available.

To Register - Send a mail to sapana_rawat@yahoo.com or divyadshetty@hotmail.com with your name and apartment community name.

About Kaustubh Rau:

Kaustubh Rau works as an educator with young people and enjoys learning about the natural world with them. Currently he teaches in the biology program at Azim Premji University.

Nature walk at Puttenahalli Lake

On 4th February 2017, an evening nature walk was held at Puttenahalli Lake, JP Nagar 7th Phase, coordinated by PNLIT volunteer Sapana Rawat. Sapana had the following to report about the event. 

"The actual flower of the Bougainvillea plant is the small white one and not the colorful pink, red, orange color leaves that surround it. The colorful leaves will slowly turn into green once they mature," said avid naturalist Deepa Mohan much to the delight and surprise of a group of adults and children.   

This mixed group of more than 20 adults, children and 2 infants in strollers(!) had assembled at 4 p.m. for a nature walk with Deepa, who along with her other naturalist friends, Chandu, Jagdeesh, Padma, Ramaswamy, Sriram, Vidhya and young Keerthana, asked and answered all their curious questions. 

What is the Gecko doing in the termite hill? --- Looking for food and avoiding becoming someone else's food! 

Gecko in a termite hill

How does a weaver ant build its nest? --- The larvae of the ants chew the leaves along with their saliva! 

Who does a Brahminy Kite resemble? --- The Bald Eagle, the national bird of the US. 

Who lives under a Parijata Tree? --- Hanuman. 

How did Pride of India tree get its name? ---You will have to google this one now else attend the next Nature walk !

The group ambled around for more than an hour around the beautiful Puttenahalli lake observing, touching, learning and sharing what they saw on that bright Saturday afternoon. They got 25 species of birds, which was documented by Vidhya on the eBird website here.

More pics of the event by Deepa, can be seen on Facebook here. 

Heartwarming gestures by our children

Over the past few years, we've done many things to raise funds for PNLIT, and we've realised that fund-raising is quite a challenge. To a social-cause fund-raiser who may knock on your door, the most disheartening experience is when you express regret and shut the door. Donations apart, we have often found it difficult to get people to part with Rs 220 for a PNLIT calendar, or even Rs 30, in exchange for a PNLIT wristband.  

However, there are many generous souls out there, generous both in terms of time and monetary support, who share our dreams, who believe that together we can make a change, and because of whom we have sustained. When these generous souls are children, it is truly heart-warming.

Recently, Sanjay Dev, a young boy of 9  years, donated Rs 1000 to PNLIT. Sanjay had put up a car racing game stall at his apartment's Christmas celebration on 24th Dec 2015. After paying the stall charges, his net profit was Rs 500. His father Reghunath had promised to make an equal contribution, which is how the figure reached Rs 1000. 

Sanjay, at his car racing game stall

Another young donor is Rohan Mishra, a Std 12 student, who like Sanjay lives in the Puttenahalli Lake area and believes that "charity begins at home". A few months ago Rohan said he would like to contribute by donating Rs 1000 from his pocket money every other month. And he does! Apart from monetary contribution, over the past year, Rohan has spared some of his time doing a few back-office things for PNLIT.    

Some months ago, another young enthusiast Vishnu Sreenivas, who was then in high school, took a group of children for a nature walk around Puttenahalli Lake, charging a small fee. And he donated the money he had collected to PNLIT. 

We've also had our children actively promote the PNLIT cloth bags, while dissuading the use of plastic carry bags. 

Thank you children, and thank you parents.

"Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." - Anne Frank