Chamarajanagar: The first State-level three-day Bird Festival (Hakki Habba) that began at the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar District on Jan. 5, ends today evening. 

The area is also a Tiger Protected Zone. Though many State-level Bird Festivals were held at other places in the past, the Forest Department and the Karnataka Eco Tourism Development Board conducted the festival at BRT Sanctuary for the first time. 

The festival, in its seventh edition, was an attempt to save the vanishing avian species and to connect people to the rich avian diversity in this less-explored forest habitat. The BRT Sanctuary has more than 274 species of birds and the rich biodiversity of the area supports rich flora and fauna. 

Some of the routes covered during the festival include K.Gudi – towards BR Hills, Road to Mosalekere and beyond, Road towards Navodaya School, Kanheri Colony; towards Belatha; Road from Purani Gate to Purani Podu, Road towards Yalandur, Mulkibetta, Doddasampige to Chikkasampige, Chikkasampige to Doddasampige and Krishnankatte and from Boodipadaga- Road towards Raagikalmadu.