Mangaluru: A total of 110 birdwatchers, including 30 children, recorded around 90 bird species at the NITK, Surathkal campus during the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). The event was organized by the NITK Staff Recreation Club, led by staff convenor Shashikanth and research scholar Viona, in collaboration with the Coastal Karnataka Bird Watchers Network.

Participants explored five designated trails—beachside, campus interior, north, south, and east—along with the outskirts of NITK. “The campus is a haven for birds, featuring wetlands, a seashore that attracts waders, and a preserved forest patch. We spotted gulls and terns,” said Aravind Kudla, a teacher and birding enthusiast. However, he expressed concern over a decline in migratory bird numbers, attributing it to habitat loss as green spaces and paddy fields give way to residential development.

Among the documented species were blackbirds, yellow-footed green pigeons, cormorants, sandpipers, egrets, ibises, prinias, bee-eaters, and orioles.

Birdwatching for children

As part of the GBBC, Early Bird and Ataavi Bird Foundation conducted bird walks for children in Mangaluru. Led by Aravind Kudla, the session included nature journaling and a 60-minute birdwatching walk. Young birders observed cormorants preening, sandpipers near a stream, lapwings on the ground, and parakeets in flight. The session concluded with interactive activities such as a Bird Survival game and a memory challenge using bird flashcards. Meanwhile, parents participated in a separate bird walk for adults.