Pune: 81 bird species found in census on Fergusson campus

Dr Mahajan added, “The students learn how to identify the birds. Some of our students are experts in bird identification. The senior students give their knowledge to the junior students, and the students learn how to identify the birds.” This event was part of the ‘The Great Backyard Bird Count’, led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. A total of 6,500 participants submitted 66,000 observations, documenting 1,086 species nationwide.

Siddhant Mhatre, a student, said, “Due to climate change, the number of birds is declining as they are losing their habitats. Urbanization has put birds at risk. In such a scenario, a bird census inspires awareness among students.” On this, Dr. Mahajan added, “The number of bird count was higher last year. It was 87, while this year it was recorded as 81. What could be the reason for this, even we are thinking.” Muskaan Srivastava, an environmental science student, added, “This initiative sparked my interest in birdwatching. It allowed students from various disciplines to combine their scientific and creative skills, adding a hands-on dimension to education.”