Mysuru: The Department of Forest and District Administration will be jointly conducting a Bird Festival on Dec. 28 and 29 as part of the ongoing Mysuru Winter Festival-2018.

Entries are invited from the bird-lovers who will have to register their names through online before Dec. 26 (http://MDC.psmedia.in/). The Forest Department has organised this festivals to make people aware of the local bird species, increase conservation and keep a count on the dwindling species.

The participants will be taken on a bird-watching exercise around Kukkarahalli Lake, Varakodu Scrub, Lingambudhi Lake, Hebbal Lake, Karanji Lake and other wetlands.

Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar, who is an avid bird-watcher, has evinced special interest in the programme, whose objective is to create public awareness of the rich biodiversity of the region.

While the bird-watching will be at the stipulated Lakes, the technical sessions to provide additional details will be held at Mysuru Zoo. The Bird Festival will be inaugurated at the Zoo premises at 11 am on Dec. 28. There will be a technical session from 12 noon to 1.30 pm. Abishekha Rajagopal will give a talk on ‘People’s interest for birds’ while the Deputy Commissioner will speak on ‘Bird-watching as a hobby.’

Members of Mysuru Nature will explain the details of bird- watching and other preparations to the participants between 2.30 pm and 3 pm.

From 3.30 to 6 pm, the participants, divided into 6 teams, each  comprising 20 members, will be taken for bird-watching.

On Dec. 29, there will be a bird-watching session from 6.30 am to 9.30 am. It will be followed by technical sessions from 10.30 am to 1.15 pm. Experts like Suhel Khwadar, B.R. Sheshagiri and A.  Shivaprakash will speak on arrival of various types of migratory birds and other issues. Participants have to make their own accommodation arrangements.

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