More than 20 bird lovers on Saturday and Sunday were on a bird-watching mission in the forest areas and around water bodies to mark the World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), initiated in 2006. It is a global awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the protection of migratory birds and their habitats.
On the second weekend every May, people around the world organise public events, such as bird festivals, education programmes and excursions to celebrate the day and to help raise awareness around a specific theme, says R. Mohammed Saleem of Coimbatore Birding Club, the avian wing of Environment Conservation Group.
The two-day event began at the Singanallur lake on Saturday morning at 6.30 a.m. The event was attended by several local birders. October to January is the right time for watching migratory birds in wetlands and forests in Coimbatore.
On Saturday, the participants were able to spot two Greater Painted-Snipe and few Yellow Bittern, which were not common. The birders identified more than 30 species of wetland and associated birds.
On Sunday, they were at Navakkarai and identified more than 40 birds. They had a rare glimpse of a pair of Black-naped Blue Monarch building its nest. The birders from a distance watched them bring twigs for building its nest.
The birds spotted included Common Myna, Common Iora, Brown-Headed Barbet, Black-Headed Oriole, Brahminy Kite, Rufous Babbler, White-Headed Babbler, Rose-Ringed Parakeet
White Breasted Water Hen, Pea Fowl, Black-naped Blue Monarch, Jungle Quail, Pied Wagtail, White breasted Kingfisher, Purple Rumped Sunbird, Black Drongo, Rufous Treepie, Hoppoe Spotted Dove, Laughing Dove, Common Crow, Bush Lark, Paddyfield Pipit, Pied Bushchat, Indian Robin, Indian Roller Oriental Magpie Robin, Common Hawk Cuckoo, Little Cormorant, Common Tailorbird, Grey Breasted Pirinia, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Shama, Red Vented Bulbul, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Green Bee-eater and Leaf Bird.
