Bird race enthrals Coimbatore's young and aged alike

As many as 120 nature enthusiasts participate; sight rare birds

Bird lovers and nature enthusiasts during the bird race organised in the city on Sunday. Photo: S. Siva Saravanan

More than 120 bird watchers, from schoolchildren to retired persons, participated enthusiastically in Coimbatore Bird Race. The event was organised by Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) and Salim Ali Naturalist Forum with the support of HSBC and Yuhina Eco-Media – Mumbai.

The 120 members divided themselves into 25 teams, with four members each in a team, to sight and record the maximum number of birds. The birders largely looked for birds around water bodies, lush green cover areas, and at the foot hills.

Bird haunts in the city were covered in the afternoon and around dusk. Many teams reported sighting of nearly 100 species of birds.

Migratory season

This year, being the migratory season, the birders sighted long distance migratory birds such as Montagu’s Harrier, Rose Finch, Sand Pipers and short distance migratory birds such as Spot Billed Pelican and Painted Stork, co-ordinator of the event P. Pramod from SACON, said.

They were also able to sight forest bird species such as Bonelli’s Eagle, Black Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle and Changeable Hawk Eagle in city limits.

Last year Bird Race in December witnessed recording of 251 species of birds in total and this year’s tally is expected to be similar or more. The sightings are being verified and tallied.