Mysore, Feb. 23 :

Big Bird Day (BBD), a major bird-watching event will take place across the length and breadth of Kodagu district tomorrow in which more than 25 teams of ornithology enthusiasts have enlisted to assimilate data about the winged creatures.

The “Big Bird Day” is an initiative that was initially started by the ‘Delhi Bird Watchers’ in 2004. The underlying concept of this initiative is “Bird Watching” for the entire day in order to accumulate the highest possible number of species in the region. This year it has become a Pan-India event for the first time. There are more than 200 enlisted teams, making this the largest BBD event for the first time. There are close to 1500 participants all over India. Birders go individually or in small groups, watch birds in certain areas and report the sightings by the end of the day, according to Dr. Bishan Monnappa, a well known orthopaedic in Virajpet and an avid photographer, who is BBD Co-ordinator for Kodagu.

“Despite Kodagu being a difficult terrain, a lot of volunteers have come forward to participate in this event. It will be an educative event which is non-competitive and non-commercial,” said Dr. Monnappa

This event will provide valuable scientific data regarding the rich avian life of India. Pending the success of this event, future plans are to be implemented to cover those areas with the assistance of the Forest Department. Contact Dr. Bishan Monnappa at bishancm@yahoo.com

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / February 23rd, 2013