Manipal Bird Day: about 250 rare birds recorded

Mangalore Today News Network

Manipal, Feb 20, 2017: Manipal University is astir with thousands of students from more than 100 countries note worthy is also the town is also home to nearly 250 winged beauties.

Avian enthusiasts from Manipal have sighted birds, including Western Ghats endemic such as the dark-fronted babbler, Rufous babbler and Nilgiri flowerpecker. Peninsular endemics like Jerdon’s bushlark, Malabar lark, yellow-billed babbler, Indian endemics such as red spurfowl, yellow-wattled lapwing as well as globally threatened birds such as the grey-headed bulbul, Malabar pied hornbill, broad-tailed grassbird and others


"It’s been seven years since bird lovers started exploring and enjoying the wonderful avifauna in Manipal. Hearing bird calls and sighting them each Sunday rejuvenates you and fills you with energy that lasts the entire week, and you look forward to the next Sunday with vigour and enthusiasm!" shares Dr Vidya Pratap, an avid birder, adding that the woods and grasslands of Manipal are home to an array of bird species.

However, for avian enthusiasts, one Sunday in a year is considered special -- Manipal Bird Day, when a large number of bird lovers from far and wide gather to enjoy the sight the birds of this region present. It was held recently when around 130 bird lovers with binoculars and cameras went around different parts of Manipal, spotting a large variety of birds. "To some, it was an opportunity to tick a few birds off their bucket list while to others, it was the unveiling of a whole new bird world." 

On that day, 13 teams comprising experienced and first-time birdwatchers set off to various locations, including Eshwar Nagar, Indrali, Sarlabettu, Herga, End Point, Shanti Nagar, Dashrath Nagar, Manipal Lake, Golikatte and Shettybettu. A total of 145 species of birds were recorded this year.