In honour of the International Day for Biological Diversity in 2024, the Department of
Environment and Traditional Ecosystems at Martin Luther Christian University hosted an
insightful panel discussion and a fun inter-college quiz competition.
Seven groups representing various Shillong colleges took part in the quiz competition, which
had the topic “Biodiversity in Meghalaya.” St. Edmunds College emerged victorious,
followed by St. Anthony’s College in second position and Synod College in third.
Mr. Ezra Lawanker Rynjah served as the resource for the afternoon session’s discussion
topic, “Birds and Bird Watching in Meghalaya: An Introduction to Citizen Science.” Dr. Glenn
C. Kharkongor, our Chancellor, shared his thoughtful insights about citizen science and bird
watching using papers and studies from the area. The science of ornithology, the
background of ornithology in India, and the particulars of bird watching in Meghalaya were
all covered in Mr. Rynjah’s insightful talk. The audience offered many suggestions as he
facilitated an engaging conversation about conservation tactics and threats to bird
populations.
Mr. Rynjah used binoculars, books, and cameras to demonstrate different bird identification
techniques and tools to improve the learning experience. He engaged the audience with
demonstrations and gave helpful advice on how to use them.
After a lively Q&A session, the discussion turned to future initiatives to encourage bird
watching and conservation in Meghalaya.