Restoring Forbidden Wonder of Birds’ Nest – Delhi Resident Taught Nest Making to Over 10 lakh Children
Running an organization called Eco Roots Foundation that conducts nest-making workshops all around the country, the ‘Nest Man of India’ Rakesh Khatri has taught nearly 10 lakh children through short courses.
The term “bird’s nest” may have the overtones of a messy hairdo, or other such unspeakably knotty conundrums but one can’t deny the fact that birds are the best engineers in the world when it comes to creating their refuge.
Rakesh Khatri, a resident of Delhi, now staying in Ashok Vihar, where it’s hard for birds to enter people’s homes and make nests has been creating space for thousands of birds. Known as the ‘Nest Man of India’, started his journey of saving birds in the city by building them houses from eco-friendly materials.
Initially, he started with coconut shells but no bird came to build a nest there. He continued experimenting and narrowed it down to bamboo sticks, jute thread, and husk.
Holding a Limca Book of Records award, a National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology, his eco-friendly birdhouses have received tremendous appreciation from people. He also has a dedicated chapter in the Class 4 ICSE book describing his commendable work.
After building over 2.5 lakh nests, he conducts virtual as well as physical seminars on nest-making techniques and has taught nearly 10 lakh children who have learned nest-making through the courses.
“It doesn’t take much to build nests if people have it in their heart, birds need homes as they have none left. They need gaps in walls, but now people are aghast when they see holes in their walls. Bushes have disappeared. So where will birds make their homes,” Khatri says.
