City bird enthusiasts are already preparing to flock to several birding hotspots across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
To commemorate the birth anniversary of the 'Birdman of India' Salim Ali, an entire day has been dedicated to birdwatching across the country by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). The event has been made an annual affair and will be held each year, on the following Sunday of his birthday on November 12.
"BNHS-India has decided to revive the 'Salim Ali bird count' across India and the date set for this year has been fixed for November 15. We invite avid as well as enthusiastic birdwatchers to participate in this event by observing birds wherever they like and wherever it is possible for at least 15 minutes and preferably for over an hour," said Atul Sathe, assistant director, education and communication, BNHS-India, adding that a complete list of all species spotted with counts of individuals can then be submitted on eBirds website from where BNHS would download, analyse and circulate the findings.
"We are even encouraging people to visit multiple locations during the day, but it is imperative to maintain and upload separate bird lists (and counts) for each location," he added.
City bird enthusiasts are already preparing to flock to several birding hotspots across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
According to BNHS, the event presents a good opportunity for birders to visit the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) as well as protected areas or community conserved wilderness areas around them. "The 'Salim Ali bird count' can become a means for monitoring the status of birds and their habitats if one visits the same location each year. Bird conservation and natural history groups could also use this occasion to organise other events to popularise bird watching among the general public," said a BNHS official.
The compiled report of the bird count will be released by BNHS soon after the event 'The Sálim Ali Bird Count', organised by BNHS in partnership with Bird Count India, a collective of many organisations and groups across the country working towards documenting and monitoring birds.
(The bird list can be submitted on http://ebird.org/content/india/)
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