If city planners can include green hotspots in their designs, urban jungles can be home to a variety of bird species. This was once again demonstrated by bird watchers at the Bird Race 2023, which was held on January 8 in partnership with the Birds Conservation Society of Gujarat (BCSG).
Surprisingly, the suburbs such as Rancharda, Shilaj, Bavla, and Ghuma and small green spaces like Law Garden, Parimal Garden, Center for Environment Education, and SPIPA recorded the biggest variety of species in the city. Sunbirds, tiny warblers, ioras, and ashy drongo were a few of the birds that were seen in the green hotspots.
In the Ahmedabad district, The Bird Race 2023 observed species such as the Bar-headed Goose and Greylag Goose, waterfowl such as the Indian Spot-billed Duck and Knob-billed Duck, nocturnal birds such as the Spotted Owlet and Mottled Wood Owl, and other types of waders.
Kunan Naik, Coordinator of the Bird Race 2023 said bird sightings are poor in city areas with only species like mynas and kites being recorded. “But gardens and other green urbanised landscapes have become small hotspots for birds. We recorded nearly 50 to 60 species.”
The goal of the Bird Race, which has been going on for more than 10 years, is to promote bird observation. Teams are formed before the race and travel to pre-determined locations of their choosing to record as many species as possible-determined locations of their choosing to record as many species as they can. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s e-bird platform is used to record the sightings of birds. The information is then applied to scientific research.
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