Interested in birdwatching? You can help in a bird count during Pongal, next month.
No field guides, binoculars or notes needed. All you have to do is observe the birds in your neighbourhood for 15 minutes, without a break.
Then take pictures of the birds on your smartphone and upload them on the website: www.ebird.org. You can also save the images using the app ‘birdlogasia’ available on both Android and iOS platforms.
The three-day programme, planned by the Madras Naturalists’ Society (MNS), is inspired by the Onam bird count conducted last year in neighbouring Kerala, says K.V. Sudhakar, president of MNS.
Participants have to observe birds for 15 minutes on three days from January 14. Whatever they sight can be recorded on their smartphones and uploaded on the app or website, says Mr. Sudhakar.
The participants can observe the birds anywhere and anytime during the day. The app also has a list of birds the participants can verify if they are sighted, he says.
The data collected will help in identifying birds in a particular place and note any decline or increase in their population.
It will also help the authorities, at a later stage, to introduce suitable conservation programmes for particular species. For more details on the programme, contact K. Gnanaskandan on 9884366446.
