Team Herald
PANJIM: With almost 40 percent of the bird species from the country being recorded in Goa, the State is set to host the second edition of the Bird Festival from January 12-14 at Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary focusing on oceanic birds.
Forest Department, in association with Tourism Department, Economic Development Corporation and Goa Bird Conservation Network is holding the festival.
Addressing the media on Friday, Principal Conservator of Forest Ajay Saxena said the event will have bird sightings at the sanctuary and the coastal belt covering Galjibag and nearby area.
Saxena said that of the 1224 bird species recorded in India, out of 10,293 in the world, Goa has 450 species on record, which include some endangered ones.
“There are hundreds of migratory birds that visit the coast. Goa being rich in coastline, wetlands, water bodies, one can see a lot of oceanic birds taking shelter here for small period,” the PCF said. He explained that most of the migratory birds that come to India, visit Goa as the ecosystem is favourable to them.
Saxena, however, expressed concern that increasing pollution, use of pesticides, chemicals, and climate change is affecting birds across the country and so also in Goa.
So far 35 delegates have registered for the festival, including a couple from Sri Lanka and a bird lover from USA. Forest Department is expecting nearly 150 delegates.
Renowned personalities in the field of ornithology, vulture conservation, wildlife caricaturists, will conduct technical sessions at Cotigao.
