Answering the Hornbill’s Call — Tangkaravakoon ’27 Named Nat Geo Award Recipient

Curiosity can change the world.

Years before she would make her way to Wallingford, Conn., Proud Tangkaravakoon ’27 was a wide-eyed, inquisitive 10-year-old exploring Khao Yai National Park during a school-wide field trip. Turning left and right, taking in the beauty of the forest and grassland, her life would change forever when she noticed the majestic wings and colorful, long, down-curved bill of a bird flying above her head.

"Gok, Gok, Gok, Gok," Proud fondly remembers the sound of the bird communicating with others nearby.

Proud was captivated. The bird she saw that day was a hornbill, or as they're affectionately known, "farmers of the forest." They've earned their nickname by promoting forest biodiversity and regrowth through seed dispersal. However, despite the good they do for their neighbors in the forest, they need help themselves to survive. Unlike other species of birds, hornbills are unable to build their own nests and must rely on tree cavities of a specific size that are naturally developed in trees. Typically, cavities form over decades due to slow processes such as branch breakage, fungal decay, or animal damage.

Tragically, in recent years, the populations of various hornbill species have dwindled due to a range of environmental changes and human behaviors. As recently as February, the Bangkok Post reported that only 13 hornbill species remain, of which 10 are considered endangered. Adding insult to injury, Thailand has reportedly lost more than a quarter of its rainforests over the last decade, leading to a loss of trees and, thus, potential homes for hornbills. Still, there are those, like Proud, the Thailand Horbill Research Foundation, and others, who refuse to give up on protecting their feathered friends in the sky.

During spring break of her first year at Choate, Proud returned to the National Park, whose biodiversity captivated her as a young girl. This time, she wasn't joined by her classmates, but rather a researcher from The Hornbill Research Foundation (THRF), a branch of the Thailand Hornbill Project at Mahidol University.

"What I learned during this trip was saddening," she explained. "In many parts of Thailand, deforestation has made these natural cavities, which were already rare, even scarcer, and hornbill populations have been severely declining. Conservation efforts exist, but they come with challenges: restoring natural cavities requires rangers to climb dangerous heights, and existing artificial nests each have significant drawbacks — wood deteriorates quickly, earthen jars limit chick development, and fiberglass can harm the birds."

This trip marked a shift not only in her interest but in her life. As she says, "what began as a fascination for these hornbills became a sense of urgency," and it was then that Homes for Hornbills was born.

With guidance from researchers at THRF and support from TOA Venture Holding Co., Ltd., she began exploring innovative methods to build durable nests for hornbills across Thailand. Approaching this task with a keen eye for design and research, she collaborated with THRF to ensure each nest had the correct cavity size, provided proper ventilation, and was safe for hornbills. After establishing the requirements for each nest, Proud began seeking potential materials and identifying alternatives in case challenges arose. Once she had a proper plan in place, she presented her ideas to researchers and scientists before entering the lab and experimenting with natural fibers to create the final product.

"What surprised me most was how complex the process was, as it required balancing multiple factors at once, from impact strength and weather resistance to ensuring the nests were safe and comfortable for the birds," Proud reflected. "Small changes in design or material could have a big impact. It also showed me how important it is to combine scientific research with real-world testing. Developing the nests wasn’t a one-step solution, but a process of testing, learning, and improving."

After much thought, research, and planning, Proud was ready to bring her project to life. She made her way to Koh Yao Noi, a quiet, scenic island located in Phang Nga Bay. There, she worked with THRF and community members to set up 20 nests. In addition, she co-led a group called Young Hornbill Guardians, which educated more than 60 students at Baan Nam Chued School about biodiversity and conservation efforts.

"On Yao Noi Island, I was surrounded by a community deeply committed to protecting hornbills," she said. "The first was Jaa Maa, an elderly woman who was one of the earliest protectors of hornbills on the island. Before poaching was illegal, she opposed it, and today she continues her efforts by planting native trees that provide food for the birds. Another was Bang Hon, who used his woodworking skills to construct artificial nests. The third was Paradon, who leveraged social media to raise awareness and engage a wider audience in hornbill conservation. Through them, I saw that conservation can take many forms, from planting trees to building habitats to telling stories."

Of the 20 nests set up around the island, 10 were initially occupied and 14 chicks fledged. As the breeding season progressed, the numbers increased, bringing the total to 14 occupied nests, making Proud "hopeful that this can be a long-term solution." However, her work doesn't stop there. Even when she's across the world at Choate Rosemary Hall, she continues to explore new ways to uplift the community and preserve the beauty of the life around her.

"My experiences at Choate, especially through the Environmental Immersion Program, have pushed me to see conservation as a connection among science, community, and education," she said. "On the science side, I collaborated with researchers on developing artificial nests, exploring ways to make them more durable and safer for hornbills. I also worked with local communities to monitor the nests and track hornbill activity, which showed me the importance of long-term collaboration in conservation work."

Her hard work has not gone unnoticed. Proud directed and co-wrote the award-winning documentary, Homes for Hornbills, in 2025. More recently, she was selected as the Regional Winner for Oceania & Southeast Asia for The Earth Prize 2026 and was also named a Top Honors Award Recipient for the 2026 National Geographic Slingshot Challenge, which includes a $10,000 grant.

As she nears her final year at Choate, Proud is moving with purpose. She hopes to continue expanding Homes for Hornbills while inspiring more young people to engage with conservation efforts in Thailand and beyond. She is currently raising funds to install 10 additional artificial nests in Budo-Su-Ngai Padi National Park, home to critically endangered species such as the Helmeted Hornbill and Rhinoceros Hornbill. At Choate, her experiences in the Environmental Immersion Program have also deepened her interest in the intersection of science, sustainability, and community action. Through each initiative and experience, Proud hopes to turn awareness into meaningful environmental action that will benefit the very birds who captured her attention nearly a decade ago.

Photo Credit: Photos Courtesy of Proud Tangkaravakoon ’27

Editorial Credit: Ryan Shepard '14 is the Manager of Editorial Services at Choate Rosemary Hall, bringing 10+ years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and content strategy.