Go birding to honour the Bird Man of India
Date : 12 November 2017

Salim Ali

Go birding to honour the Bird Man of India
Participate in the bird count organised by BNHS on 12th November

Winters not only bring along respite from the harsh sun but also cheer for bird watchers with a lot of winged visitors migrating to different areas. With the birding season setting in, the Bombay Natural History Society announces the Sálim Ali Bird Count for this year, to be held on 12th November. Initiated as an annual count, the Sálim Ali Bird Count is a one day pan-India event to commemorate the birth anniversary of the ‘Bird Man of India’ late Dr Sálim Ali (1896-1987). Every year the Count is organised on first Sunday after his birth anniversary, which coincides with his birthday this year, 12th November.

The Count is open to all and the only criterion for participation is your interest in birds. Participants can observe and record birds in any of their chosen areas for at least 15 minutes, and preferably over an hour. A checklist of birds is available on the IBCN website (www.ibcn.in). The participants are requested to download this checklist and enter their sightings in it. The complete checklist of all species (ideally with counts of individuals) should be submitted through email to Mr. Nandkishor Dudhe, Research Assistant, BNHS ([email protected]). One can visit multiple locations during the day, but it is imperative to maintain separate bird list (and count) for each location.

Sálim Ali Bird Count is a citizen science initiative conducted in association with multiple organisations. The Count presents a good opportunity for bird watchers to visit the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) around them and undertake a diligent count of birds for longer duration (over an hour). It can become a means for monitoring the status of birds and their habitats over the years if one visits the same location every year. Counts will be more productive during early hours of the day, with birds generally becoming quiet and inactive during middle of the day. The bird watchers can continue monitoring birds post this one day count and be a part of the Common Bird Monitoring Programme of BNHS.

BNHS is thankful to all the bird watchers who participated in the Count last year (organised on 13th November) and hopes to encourage more participation this year. A total of 325 species were recorded last year from 12 states of India through checklists, with Maharashtra topping the number of checklists submitted. Out of the 325 species spotted, 18 species were from the Threatened category of IUCN Red List including Lesser Adjutant Leptopilos javanicus, Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus, Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis, and others. In the last Count, ducks (Anatidae family) were the most recorded birds followed by Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri, Eurasian Coot Fulica atra, Common Myna Acridotheres tristis and the rest.

In a nutshell:
What: Salim Ali Bird Count (nationwide bird count)
When: Sunday, 12th November, 2017
How: (1) Go bird watching for at least 15 minutes to one hour;
(2) Fill a separate checklist (with count of birds) for each location covered;
(3) Submit checklists through email to n(DOT)dudhe(AT)bnhs(DOT)org
Who: Anyone with an interest in birds can participate! Also an opportunity to introduce your family and friends to the wonderful world of birds
For queries: Contact Mr. Nandkishor Dudhe on n(DOT)dudhe(AT)bnhs(DOT)org