All eyes in the sky for Mumbai Bird Race

Nearly 400 ornithologists professionals and budding ones flocked to the citys forest areas,mud flats and beaches,to observe,study and make notes on birds as part of the Mumbai Bird Race 2010 on Sunday.

Nearly 400 ornithologists professionals and budding ones flocked to the citys forest areas,mud flats and beaches,to observe,study and make notes on birds as part of the Mumbai Bird Race 2010 on Sunday.

Participants from across Mumbai and as far as Alibaug on the southern limits and beyond Virar on the northern side started at 6 am and collected details on the birds they observed.

The spots they visited include Sanjay Gandhi National Park,Karnala,Karjat forests and the Uran and Sewri mud flats. A participant said that sightings in Central Mumbai was especially heartening this year. Between 6 pm and 8 pm,participants assembled at the Maharashtra Nature Park,Mahim,to calculate the total sightings. This exercise helps us take stock of any rare sightings or unsual trends, said the participant.

Mumbais first Bird Race was held in 2005 and ever since sightings of more than 230 species of bird are being recorded each year. However,experts expressed concern that rampant development on wetlands would bring down the bird count.

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