Census of birds coming to Goa next month

A census of birds visiting Goa’s tiny Dr Salim Ali Birds Sanctuary will be initiated by the state’s forest department next month.

The census will record the number of birds visiting the wetland tucked on the River Mandovi bank.

“Last year we had made an inventory of birds but to verify the correctness of data, we will be doing it for three years,” Deputy Conservator of Forests Debendra Dalai said.

The sanctuary, spread over 1.78 square km, is a notified sanctuary for birds and is visited by more than 150 bird species from places like Mongolia, Siberia and other Asian regions.

This is for the first time that the inventory is being prepared. The work is done by the forest department with the active help of volunteers including those from Bombay Natural Heritage Society, Dalai said.

The forest department has adopted ocular counting method, a methodology which is certified by the Wildlife Institute of India.

The wetland has attracted many ornithologists who flock here to see the birds including the migratory ones which arrive here mostly during November to February.

“We began the inventory last year, but by the time the methodology was in place, it was late. So this year, it would be much accurate and we will repeat the exercise next year too,” he said.