Over 162 bird enthusiasts participated in the HSBC Bangalore Bird Race 2008, recording the bird species in and around the City metropolitan region and learning the finer aspects of bird-watching.

The “prized sighting” during the second edition of the annual event, was The Great White Pelican spotted at BTM Layout. The rare migratory species was being sighted in the City after almost 30 years.

With no pre-determined birding routes or spots prescribed, bird-watchers, both amateurs and experts, in about 30 groups, took part in the Bird Race, held from dawn-to-dusk, which bird lovers say gives the much-needed fillip to the experience of bird-watching.

An assortment of visual delights accosted the bird lovers all along their way with the shifty Warblers, the rare Red Avadavat, the laughing thrush and the spirited Sun bird being caught unawares on the cameras. Over all, about 131 species were sighted during the 12-hour race. In the last year’s edition, about 250 species had been spotted. Event co-ordinator Dr S Subramanya said: “The event is all about giving bird-watchers a space to come together and keep their interest alive.”

Bird lover Sunjoy Monga who brought the concept to Bangalore last year, however, looked beyond the so-called idyllic art of birding. He found the need for such an activity all the more pressing in times of severe environmental degradation and rapid urbanisation.

Monitoring key species
Moving forward, he envisaged a database to be created over a period of three years that would “earmark key species and monitor them”, which would further help them analyse the nature of avifauna of the City.

Amateur birder Ruta who is pursuing her PhD in astrophysics, said: “I had a great experience spotting about 15 species I had never even heard of. I also got exposure on various habitats and spotting cues like bird-calls.” Prizes were given to the teams that spotted the maximum number of species and sighted the rare ones.