Decline in avian sightings

MANIPAL: Birders from across the State have recorded 125 bird species at the 10th edition of Manipal Bird Day held on Sunday. "There has been a decrease in the bird sightings when compared to the previous year. Last year, the team recorded 132 bird species. The cloudy weather in addition to the loss of habitat could be one of the reasons for decline in sightings. In the last six years, I have noticed how several green patches have turned into concrete jungles," said Tejasvi Acharya, member, Manipal Birders Club and vastu and astrology consultant.
About 140 birders armed with cameras, binoculars and loads of patience reported at the Hotel Sheela Sagar at 6am. They were divided into 13 teams comprising 10-15 members each, and set off on different trails covering End Point, Saralabettu, Herga, Herga Temple Road, Golikatte, Shettybettu, Eshwar Nagar, Dashrath Nagar, Shanthi Nagar, dumping yard and Manipal Lake. The teams recorded bird species such as Yellow Wattled Lapwing, Indian Pitta, Indian Scimitar Babbler, orange breasted green pigeon, banded bay cuckoo, Malabar pied hornbill, black naped monarch, Indian paradise flycatcher, Siberian stonechat and emerald dove. Nearly 74 bird species were recorded from Dasharath Nagar and 60 from Herga Temple Road, said Acharya.
The teams returned from the trails to assemble at KMC Food Court at 9.30am. Birding was followed by a talk on backyard birding by Shubha Bhat from IISc, Bengaluru. She spoke on the importance of keeping a bowl of water for birds and on growing berry plants. She discussed how to observe birds without disturbing them. Dhruvam Desai, a third-year engineering student from Manipal Institute of Technology, spoke on ethical photography of birds. Feathered Jewels, an art exhibition by Adithya Bhat, saw 18 frames being displayed.
Manipal Birders Club that started birding a decade ago, with just three people, is now a formal group of over 500 like-minded members that meet at least once a week and go on bird walks.
Team feted
Dr H Vinod Bhat, vice-chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education,( MAHE), felicitated a group of six people who were instrumental in rescuing 35 Indian cormorants in December last year. Birder Tejasvi Acharya, said as part of a road widening project, a huge tree was axed near Tiger Circle due to which at least 45 Indian cormorants got abandoned. The Indian cormorant or Indian shag is found mainly along the inland waters of the Indian subcontinent. The team including Dr Freston Sirur, Dr Vidya Prathap, Raghavendra, Abhishek Mayya, Nihal Mohammed and Tejasvi Acharya were felicitated for rescuing 45 Indian cormorants, of which 10 died and the rest were released into the wild.