Young Bhutanese Birders
Connecting children to nature and fostering future conservation stewards.
Young Bhutanese Birders (YBB) is a bird-watching program for Bhutanese youth developed by WWF Bhutan to promote the practice of bird-watching as a means to encourage young Bhutanese children to spend time in nature and cultivate an appreciation for Bhutan’s beautiful birdlife and their ecosystems. The program was piloted between late 2016 to early 2017 and launched 8 clubs across Thimphu, Wangduephodrang, Sarbang, Zhemgang, and Pemagatshel.20/20 by 2020:In 2019, the program relaunched with a series of launch tours to achieve nationwide coverage by 2020, that is to ensure at least 1 YBB club exists in the 20 districts of Bhutan. The 20/20 by 2020 campaign began in June 2019 with the first launch tour that saw the launch of 7 new clubs across Gasa, Haa, Chukha, and Samtse. Two more launch tours are planned to bring YBB to schools in Paro, Tsirang, Dagana, Mongar, Trashigang, and Samdrup Jongkhar before the end of 2019.
WWF Bhutan launches a YBB club in a school through the following steps:
- Interested schools send an Application Form to WWF Bhutan.
- An internal commitee assesses the application against a selectionc criteria to select schools that will recieve a either a full-fund or partially-fund support.
- Upon selection, WWF Bhutan visits the school and organizes a half-day workshop that trains club members and club coordinators on the basics of bird-watching and bird identification as well as a bird-watching practical to practice the bird-watching methods learned during the workshop
- WWF Bhutan donates the following to fully-funded clubs: 5 bird-watching binoculars, 10 field guides, 30 YBB guide-books for club members, and a club seed fund of Nu. 30,000 (government school), and Nu. 15,000 (private school). WWF Bhutan donates the following to partial-funded clubs: 2 bird-watching binoculars, 5 field guides, and 20 YBB guide-books for club memvers.
YBB Tour 2019
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji/WWF BhutanSoeltapsa Primary School becomes another member of YBB!
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji / WWF BhutanNorbugang and Yoeseltse schools also became part of YBB in 2019.
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji / WWF BhutanLearning how to use the field guide.
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji / WWF BhutanPractical birding sessions.
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji / WWF BhutanSamtse Lower Secondary School is now a part of the YBB family!
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji / WWF BhutanPractical birding sessions lead by Chening Dorji our resident ...
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji / WWF BhutanTshaphel Lower Secondary School in Haa District joins the YBB ...
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji / WWF BhutanLearning how to use the field guide.
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji / WWF BhutanGedu Higher Secondary school joins YBB.
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YBB Tour 2019
© Kinley Dorji / WWF BhutanHow to use your birding equipment.
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YBB Tour 2019
© SYangchen / WWF BhutanPractical birding experience.
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YBB Tour 2019
© SYangchen / WWF Bhutan -
YBB Tour 2019
© SYangchen / WWF BhutanChening, talking to the children about a bird they just spotted.
Looking to launch YBB in 5 remaining districts:WWF Bhutan is seeking applications from interested schools in Punakha, Trongsa, Bumthang, Lhuntse, and Trashiyangtse. Interested schools may write to syangchen@wwfbhutan.org.btfor information on the application process.
