The increased participation of volunteers for a bird census in 14 districts of Maharashtra has helped generate better results than the previous years for the NGO, Maharashtra Pakshimitra.
The increased participation of volunteers for a bird census in 14 districts of Maharashtra has helped generate better results than the previous years for the NGO, Maharashtra Pakshimitra. The NGO, which focuses on ornithology and avian welfare, has recorded 67,265 birds of 312 species in 14 districts during the census conducted from January 21 to 30.
In a news release issued on Tuesday, Maharashtra Pakshimitra president, Bhau Katdare, and census organiser, Sharad Apte, said 101 institutions and 550 people, including students, housewives and citizens participated in the census.
It helped identify a number of bird species that were endangered or close to becoming endangered in the state.
The 2011 census has expressed concern about the future of Long-billed Vulture, which was spotted in Nashik district. Birds, whose habitats need protection, include Black-headed Ibis, Lesser Flamingo, Malabar Pied Hornbill and Painted Stork, Katdare said.
“Sarus Cranes were sighted in Gondia district. The bird may become an endangered species,” he told DNA.
“The accuracy of the census will rise with the increasing participation of volunteers. It will help us get data on endangered birds, based on which we can launch conservation programmes,” he said.
So far, the NGO has received 127 bird census reports from 14 districts as compared to 43 reports from the same districts last year. In the first census in 2010, the count was recorded at 12,896 birds of 274 species. Pointing out the improved figures of the bird count, Ratnagiri-based Katdare expressed satisfaction and said, “The number of participants is increasing.”
While White-rumped Vulture was spotted in Nashik and Sindhudurg districts, Crimson-backed Sunbird (endangered) was spotted in its habitat in Shirala and Walva in Sangli district. Plain Flowerpecker was counted in its habitat in Sangli, Nashik and Thane districts. Sangli district is also home to Indian Scimitar Babbler.
Other interesting findings include the spotting of Broad-tailed Grassbird, Greater Spotted Eagle and Yellow-throated Bulbul in Thane, Pune and Sangli respectively.
The highest number of birds, 34,654, were recorded in Jalgaon district while Nashik reported 8,219 and Sangli showed 5,341 birds.
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