16 species spotted at 10th edition of great backyard bird count

Madurai: As many as 16 species of birds, including the spotted owlet, pond heron, rufous treepie, rose-ringed parakeet, and shikra, were spotted at the 10th edition of the Great Backyard Bird Count 2026, organised at The American College, which concluded on MondayHeld from Feb 13, the programme saw enthusiastic participation primarily from students, though Sunday's session was opened to the public. Zoology assistant professor M Rajesh said that around 150 participants took part in the bird count.An introductory session was held to explain the significance of birds in maintaining ecological balance, along with basic training on identifying bird species and recognising their calls. He said that many of the students who participated were not from a science background. He added that several resident bird species were spotted during the exercise on the campus. This edition also marks a decade of the campus-based citizen science initiative aimed at documenting local bird diversity.Similar efforts were also conducted at Thiagarajar School of Management, where more than 26 species were recorded. V Senthil, associate professor, said that bird watching is not merely a leisure activity. He said that birds play a huge role in the ecosystem by controlling pests, pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds. The great backyard bird count is conducted worldwide each year, encouraging people to observe, identify, and record birds in their local surroundings, contributing valuable data for ecological research and conservation planning.