Rare birds spotted; Volunteers issued certificates

Gundlupet: The three-day bird census held in Bandipur National Park concluded on Sunday. 

About 80 volunteers, who were divided into batches, set out to their designated zones in the 13 Zones of Bandipur National Park, recorded their findings and handed over their records to the Forest Department officials.

During the census, the volunteers recorded sighting of rare birds such as Rufous treepie, Ayora, Kunchakara, Starling, Bul Bul and Fly Catcher among other 20 rare birds. Thirty varieties of birds were recorded at Maddur Range. Wildlife photographer R.K. Madhu captured Booted Warbler, a migratory bird from China. 

Following the conclusion of the census, volunteers were given certificates by ACF Patil, Gundlupet Sub-Division ACF K. Paramesh and Hediyala ACF M.S. Ravikumar.

Conservator of Forests and Bandipur Project Tiger Director S.R. Natesha said that 80 volunteers and forest staff participated in the first-ever bird census in Bandipur.

RFOs N.P. Naveen Kumar, Muniraju, Geetha Nayak, Manjunath, Dr. Lokesh and others were present on the occasion.