Second Sunderban Bird Festival Likely From Jan 17
The world’s largest mangrove and abode of the Royal Bengal Tiger, India’s national animal, is also a
treasure trove of many avian species. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a birder’s paradise as more
than 400 resident and migratory species of Class Aves call it their home.
The first Sunderban Bird Festival (SBF) was organized earlier this year. It was a bird enthusiast’s dream-
come true starting with the inauguration and orientation programme and a bird transect that covered 6
routes going through almost the entire forest and protected area (4000 sq.kms) of the Indian portion of
the Sunderbans.
Buoyed by the success of the first edition, the administration of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve,
The government of West Bengal is set to bring the 2nd Sunderban Bird Festival in January 2024.
As per the official website, it promises to be “An exclusive opportunity for birders, wildlife enthusiasts &
Nature Lovers to be in the Wilderness of Sundarbans.”
In the first Sunderban Bird Festival, a whopping 5000 plus bird sightings were reported during the period
through which bird enthusiasts and specialists identified many different species. A clutch of famous and
wannabe photographers was also present at the festival.
Officials are determined to ensure that the Sunderbans remains a haven for avian biodiversity and the
theme of the festival will be to encourage and make citizens take note of the richness of the avian
population in the region. At the same time, the conservation of avain fauna while spreading awareness of
the impending threats also features on the To-do List of the organisers.
Sunderbans is the natural habitat of a wide variety of waders, mudflat and shore birds, raptors,
waterfowl, and other birds of the region like kingfisher, hoopoe, woodpecker, treepie, parakeet, owlet,
coucal, bee-eater, swift, pigeon, and dove among others.
Bengali