The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has announced the SalimAli bird count for this year. The event will be held on November 12.
Initiated as an annual count, the event is held across the country to commemorate the birth anniversary of the ‘Bird Man of India’, late SalimAli (1896-1987). Every year, the count is organised on the first Sunday post his birth anniversary, said a statement issued by the BNHS.
The count is open to all interested candidates. Participants can observe and record birds in any chosen areas for at least 15 minutes and preferably over an hour. A checklist of birds is available on IBCN website (www.ibcn.in).
Participants are requested to download the checklist and record their sighting in it. The complete checklist of all species (ideally with counts of individuals) should be submitted through email to Nandkishor Dudhe, a research assistant at BNHS (n.dudhe@bnhs.org).
One can visit multiple locations, but it is imperative to maintain a separate bird list (and count) for each location.
SalimAli Bird Count is a citizen science initiative conducted in association with multiple organizations. The count presents a good opportunity for bird watchers to visit Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) around them and undertake a diligent count for a longer duration (over an hour).
It can become a means for monitoring the status of birds and their habitats over the years if one visits the same location every year. Counts will be more productive during early hours of the day, with birds generally becoming quiet and inactive during midday. Bird Participants can continue monitoring birds post the designated day and become a part of the common bird monitoring programme of BNHS.
Last year, a total of 325 species were recorded from 12 states with Maharashtra topping the number with regards to the checklists that were submitted.
Out of the 325 species spotted, 18 species were from the threatened category of IUCN Red List including Lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus), Greyheaded fish eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus), Spotbilled Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)and others.
In the last count, ducks (Anatidae family) were the most recorded birds followed by Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) and Common myna (Acridotheres tristis).
Source : TOI
