In a bid to raise the awareness about the migratory birds that are coming in the state every year, Bihar for the first time is going to organise a Migratory Bird Festival in Bhagalpur district.
In this three day festival that is starting from December 11, a plethora of events is being organised. For example, a bird racing programme, in which teams of participants will be sent to different locations to watch, photograph, and sketch birds. Those teams who find the habitat and ecology of the birds correctly will be rewarded.
The other programmes in the bird festival include a presentation on birdlife and to take opinion from the people about opening a bird ringing station in Bhagalpur.
What is a Bird Ringing Station?
A Bird Ringing Station is a place where rings are placed on the legs of birds to track the origin and route taken by them during the migration.
In the photo below, you can see how rings are placed in the bird’s leg to track them.
Bhagalpur – A Bird Paradise
While Ornithologists called Bhagalpur – A Bird Paradise, the environmentalists says, every year more than 100 varieties of Migratory Birds visit Bhagalpur.
Here is the list of some of the prominent migratory birds visiting Bhagalpur every year.
- Bar-Headed Goose
- Steppe Eagle
- Ferruginous Duck
- Eurasian Curlew
- White Wagtail
- Great Crested Grebe
- Common Greenshank
- Eurasian Coot
Why do these Migratory Birds visit Bhagalpur every year?
The prime region is the plenty of water bodies the district has, take the 60 km long Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary on the Ganga river as an example.
Why is this Migratory birds festival being organised?
Poaching of Migratory birds is quite common and uncontrolled in the state as it fetches a good amount of money for the bird catchers. To stop poaching of these birds, Bhagalpur Forest Division, Bombay Natural History Society, and Mandar Nature Club is organising this three day festival that starts from December 11 this year.
