2nd 4-day Global Bird Watchers’ meet in Gujarat all set to take flight

The second edition of Global Bird Watchers' Conference being held from January 19 to 22, promises to be bigger and greater than the earlier edition at least in terms of variety. An official associated with the conference said that so far 300 participants have registered for the event and the number is likely to touch 500.

"So far we have got registrations from 40 different countries and about 22 states of the country," said the official. For the first time registrations for the conference are being accepted online.

Stating that those people interested in attending the conference will be provided an opportunity to select their own routes for the trips, officials, however, asserted that prior registration is a must to attend the conference. The photo gallery to be set up at Mahatma Mandir between January 20 and 22 and the exhibition in which, some 15 stalls will be put up, will be open for public. The official said the stalls will be put up by organisations that promote bird-watching, bird tourism or birding sites.

The conference will be attended by ornithologists, birdwatchers, photographers, travel writers, tour operators, students and researchers among others.

The inauguration will take place on January 19 followed by field trips. The official said the primary purpose of the conference is to promote Gujarat as a bird watching destination of India and to find means and ways to preserve this valued gift.