120 members in four teams conduct census for two days

Chamarajanagar: Volunteers and Forest Department personnel have recorded a total of 253 bird species during the first-ever bird census that took place at Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary on Feb. 1 and 2.

Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, which is spread across 949.496 sq. kms, includes seven forest ranges including in Hanur and Kollegal taluks. This forest region comprises hillocks and one can see semi-hard, dry forest, dry arid forest and scrub forest in this region.

This wildlife sanctuary, which houses various wild animals including elephants, tigers, leopards, deer, wild boars, bears, foxes, bisons and wild dogs among other wild animals, has a huge population of birds and hence for the first time a bird census was conducted.

For the first-ever bird census, over 500 participants volunteered for the survey, out of which 120 were shortlisted based on expertise in birding. All participants were divided into groups of 3-4 people. Across the division, 40 tracks of 3-4 km each were selected which covered the diverse habitats across the wildlife division. Each group was allotted one track for birding.

Each group conducted three birding sessions along with nocturnal birding. At the end of bird survey, around 253 species of birds were identified by the participants. Apart from commonly found birds, participants recorded rare bird species such as White Naped Tit, White Rumped Vulture, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Crested Serpent Eagle etc.

While women participants were accommodated in Forest Inspection Bungalows, male participants were accommodated in Anti-Poaching Camps in the interior of forests.