Go birding to honour the Bird Man of India

Winters not only bring respite from the harsh sun but also cheer for bird watchers with a lot of winged visitors migrating to different areas. With the birding season setting in, the Bombay Natural History Society has announced the Salim Ali Bird Count for this year, to be held November 12.

Initiated as an annual count, the Salim Ali Bird Count is a one-day pan-India event to commemorate the birth anniversary of the 'Bird Man of India' late Dr Salim Ali (1896-1987). Every year the Count is organised on first Sunday after his birth anniversary, which coincides with his birthday this year, November 12.

The Count is open to all and the only criterion for participation is interest in birds. Participants can observe and record birds in any of their chosen areas for at least 15 minutes, and preferably over an hour. A checklist of birds is available on the IBCN website (www.ibcn.in). The participants should download this checklist and enter their sightings in it. The complete checklist of all species (ideally with counts of individuals) should be submitted through email to Nandkishor Dudhe, Research Assistant, BNHS ([e-mail]). One can visit multiple locations during the day, but it is imperative to maintain separate bird list (and count) for each location.

Salim Ali Bird Count is a citizen science initiative conducted in association with multiple organisations. The Count presents a good opportunity for bird watchers to visit the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) around them and undertake a diligent count of birds for a longer duration (over an hour). It can become a means for monitoring the status of birds and their habitats over the years if one visits the same location every year. Counts will be more productive during early hours of the day, with birds generally becoming quiet and inactive during the middle of the day. The bird watchers can continue monitoring birds post this one day count and be a part of the Common Bird Monitoring Programme of BNHS.

For queries,   contact Nandkishor Dudhe on 7620193207/ [e-mail]