As part of the field plan for the 14th season of the “Green Schools” program for the current academic year, which is organized by the Kuwait Environment Protection Society in coordination with the Ministry of Education, a scientific visit was organized to Ammourieh Primary School for Girls, during which the Public Relations Officer of the Society, Engineer Maali Al-Aqab, presented an awareness lecture and an applied workshop on the birds of Kuwait, while Samira Al-Khalifa, Head of the Photography and Photographic Documentation Team of the Society, presented a lecture entitled “Photography and Environmental Awareness”.
During her scientific, practical, and applied segment, Ms. Maali Al-Aqab presented more than one topic, starting with a visual segment from the society’s publications available on the society’s YouTube channel. It was the documentary film “Birds of Yarmouk,” which reviewed the role of the Friends of the Environment team in raising community awareness. They are a group of young people between the ages of 6 and 18, and the film reviewed their most prominent activities and tasks, inviting the students to join as members and participate in their various activities that enhance the skills of their members and contribute to conveying accurate knowledge to the community. The students interacted with the content of the film due to their similar ages to the team members.
Following that, an introductory lecture was given on the birds of Kuwait, which number more than 400 species, accompanied by visual displays of paintings showing some of the types of those birds, including small and large, marine and terrestrial, tame and predatory. The visual displays included eagles, falcons, seagulls, flamingos, starlings and hoopoes, and then she moved on to talk about the migratory birds that cross the State of Kuwait on two journeys a year.
Ms. Al-Aqab presented an overview of birds of prey, explaining that they hunt their prey to sustain themselves, such as eagles, falcons, and vultures. She highlighted their powerful wings, keen senses—especially their vision—sharp talons, and beaks adapted for tearing and ripping flesh. Most birds of prey have streamlined bodies, enabling them to reach high speeds. Following this, she conducted a practical workshop featuring paintings of these bird species, which the students colored to enhance their understanding.
For her part, Samira Al-Khalifa, head of the photography and photographic documentation team at the society, presented a lecture and workshop entitled “Photography and Environmental Awareness,” during which she explained the risks of fieldwork and outdoor photography, stressing that “the environmental photography team is exposed to many risks during documentation, which it must avoid by being careful and observing on-site everything around it, from unstable ground or moving rocks to watchful living creatures.”.
Samira Al-Khalifa addressed "Safety and Security Guidelines for Photography in Nature Reserves or Remote Locations," presenting a statistical overview of ten key guidelines. She emphasized that "photography in nature reserves and remote locations can be an enjoyable and exciting experience, but safety must be the top priority. Therefore, it is essential to follow these guidelines: meticulous planning, familiarity with the regulations of the location, obtaining necessary permits and notifications, using safety equipment, protecting the environment, ensuring animal safety, and having food, water, first aid, traveling with a group, and returning on time." She then conducted a practical workshop with the students, using visual presentations for each section of the lecture.
