Thai PBS, in partnership with the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST), hosted a special ‘Bird Walk & Talk About: Bird Walk | City View | Mindful Gaze’ event on 29th March 2026 at the Thai PBS Bird Garden Amphitheatre on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bangkok. The event also launched the ‘Thai PBS Life Takes Flight’ photo contest — a photography and video competition inviting the general public to capture the beauty of Thailand's birds, with total prizes worth over 200,000 THB.
Participants enjoyed a guided birdwatch through Thai PBS's green spaces, accompanied by experts and Thai PBS staff providing information about the role of birds in the urban ecosystem and beginners’ tips on wildlife photography and videography — opening new ways to observe and appreciate the nature around them.
Thai PBS: A Patch of Nature in the City
Somkiat Juntursima, Director of the Thai PBS News Department, reflected on the deeper significance of the event. He noted that the Thai PBS campus sits on ‘Thung Bang Khen’ — land that was historically an important wetland, once serving as ‘lungs’ and a ‘sponge’ for Bangkok, and is still home to a rich variety of birds and wildlife.
"The Thai PBS campus is, in a sense, a natural space in the middle of the city — a place where people can connect with the environment," he said. "It mirrors our vision of a media ecosystem, which, like nature, depends on diversity and balance. A public service broadcaster's role is not only to produce news, but to be a shared space where truth, knowledge and understanding can grow. Both nature and media are commons — things for which we must all care together."
Paphaphorn Chalermvanich, Director of the Public Communications and Marketing Centre at Thai PBS, said the ‘Thai PBS Life Takes Flight’ photo contest is designed to encourage young people and the general public to step outside, observe the nature around them and express their perspectives through photography and video.
"We want this contest to promote environmental learning, raise awareness of biodiversity and inspire society to value conservation through the power of creative communication," she said.
The contest is open in two age categories — Youth (15–22 years) and General Public (22 years and above) — and accepts entries across four formats, making participation accessible to everyone:
• Still photography (youth category)
• Still photography (general public)
• Short video clips (open to all ages)
• Mobile phone photography under the theme ‘Birds Near My Home’
Dr. Petch Manopawitr, President of the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST), spoke on the theme of ‘Reading Nature Through Birds’, describing the collaboration with Thai PBS as a valuable opportunity to broaden the base of people engaged in conservation.
"The more people get involved, the more momentum conservation work gains," he said. "Using the Thai PBS campus for this activity shows that urban development and nature can coexist. Birds are a wonderful bridge. They bring joy and reconnect people with the natural world. The concept of 'Bird Walk | City View | Mindful Gaze' invites participants to slow down, be present and tune back into themselves."
Thailand is home to approximately 1,082 bird species, roughly 10% of all bird species in the world. Birdwatching, whether through observation, photography or artistic expression, is an accessible entry point, through which young people can connect with nature and build a deeper understanding of and commitment to conservation.
The event also featured expert sessions, including a talk by Pipope Panitchpakdi, former Deputy Director General of Thai PBS and founder of the Horizon Classroom, on ‘Must-Visit Birdwatching Spots in Bangkok,’ and a wildlife photography masterclass for beginners by Smith Sutibut, wildlife photographer from Thai PBS's FULL FRAME programme.
Attendee Waranyu Pongsai said that he was most taken by the Brown-throated Sunbird and caught a brief but thrilling glimpse of and a clear call from a Coppersmith Barbet.
"Simply listening for birdsong near your home is an easy way to relax and feel closer to nature," he said, encouraging others to join the photo contest.
Young first-time participant, Jaratrat Sapcharatsaeng, was equally enthusiastic, spotting 16 species on the walk and singling out the Spotted Dove as her favourite — a bird she grew up seeing near home.
"The atmosphere was so fun and refreshing. Walking with experienced birdwatchers and seeing species I've never encountered before was really special," she said.
Contest Details
The ‘Thai PBS Life Takes Flight’ photo contest submissions closed on 31st May 2026. The announcement of the winners is keenly anticipated. Selected works will be featured across Thai PBS media platforms.
