67 bird species spotted at Lingambudhi Lake, 81 at Kukkarahalli Lake

Mysore/Mysuru: The four-day Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), the world’s largest co-ordinated birding exercise, involving both ornithologists and amateurs alike began in city yesterday morning. 

As part of the 21st edition of GBBC, volunteers assembled at the scenic Lingambudhi Lake at 7 am yesterday and counted the birds till 10 am. According to event organisers D.H. Tanuja and S. Shylajesha, over 67 species of birds were spotted. Today, at Kukkarahalli Lake, 81 bird species were spotted. 

Equipped with cameras and scribble pads, volunteers made a comprehensive list of bird species that included Painted Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Northern Shoveler, Taiga flycatcher, Garganey, Oriental darter, Blue-tailed bee-eater, Jacobian cuckoo and Jerdon’s leafbird. 

The sightings will now be uploaded in the e-bird app that has been developed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, USA, that will give visibility on birds of Mysuru and help scientists know the health of birds and if there is any decline in numbers. World over, bird watchers will compile their data and upload them in the app. 

Tomorrow, (Feb. 16), the GBBC team in Mysuru will move to Thippayyanakere and on the last day (Feb. 17), birds will be counted at Karanji Lake.