Yan Xiaofan is no different from most other primary school students in the city except that she can recognize various species of birds with the eye of an expert.

"This is a swallow, and that is an egret," said the 11-year-old girl from Chenjia Town Primary School on Chongming Island while pointing at pictures of the different birds in her text book.

The book, designed by teachers at the school, has helped all of the school's students pick up at least a rudimentary knowledge of birds.

With urban residents getting fewer chances to see birds as the city turns into a concrete jungle, students at the school say they are lucky to get a chance to learn about their feathered friends.

Located close to the Dongtan Wetlands on Chongming Island, which is home to various migratory birds, the school has developed a tradition of teaching "bird culture."

"Starting from 1998, we have so far held five 'bird culture' festivals," said school principal Shi Tianfei. "The yearly festival has aroused students' interest in birds and helped them become aware of the importance of environmental protection."

During the monthlong festival, which is usually held from October to November, students are given a stage to show what they have learned about birds in the past year. For example, the school has opened an exhibition room exclusively for student-made exhibits related to birds, such as bird-shaped arts and crafts made out of leaves, shells and coke bottles as well as paintings and paper-cuts of birds.

From time to time, the school also organizes tours to the Dongtan Wetlands and visits to people who raise birds in the town.

"Recently we are doing research on the domestication of ferocious birds such as eagles," said Xin Huadong, a fifth grader.

"The teacher took us to the home of a bird tamer, and we asked him many questions. His answers led us to the results in our final paper work."

To date, students have written papers on various bird-related topics, such as "why birds can fly," "the mystery of birds' feathers," "birds and poems" and "the relationship between birds and trees."

The students have also won acclaim for their trips to local markets, where they try to persuade people not to buy birds caught and killed by illegal hunters.

"Nowadays the number of birds on Chongming Island has noticeably decreased. Some of them are even facing the gloomy destiny of extinction," said the principal. "Through these activities, we hope to develop children's consciousness of protecting birds as well as the environment, to let them know that birds are our good friends."

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