Nagpur’s first avian academy aims to boost birdwatching

By:
Ritika Gupta

NAGPUR: Offering a delight to the city’s birdwatchers, the first-of-its-kind Central India

Bird

Academy (CIBA) was launched at an event held at Mimosa Hall, Chitnavis Centre, Civil Lines, on Sunday.

Shree Bhagwan, former principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), was the chief guest and Kishore Rithe, founder of Satpuda Foundation and a member of Maharashtra State Board of Wildlife was invited as the special guest on the occasion.

Situated at Laxmi Nagar, CIBA is launched with an aim to encourage

birdwatching

activities in

Vidarbha

, that gives shelter to 400 species of birds.

The academy will focus on avian and conservation ecology, ethno and applied ornithology and nature education. CIBA’s first lecture will be held on December 2 by Asad Rahmani, director of

Bombay Natural History Society

.

Dr Anil Pimplapure, director, CIBA, said that the academy had been a dream of one of Nagpur’s most respected birdwatcher late Ramesh Ladkhedkar. Through lectures, and seminars, the academy will educate the bird loving population of the city. “It would be a way to award fellowships to ornithologists and researchers, as well as a platform to tabulate status of birds and habitats in this urban landscape,” he added.

Bhagwan appreciated the initiative and said, “This will help in formulation of policies for areas inhabited by animals and birds. Data provided by the birdwatchers will be processed in a systematic manner and research on providing alternatives/solutions for endangered habitats will also be done here.”

“The data collected by this academy can be used by government agencies for protection of areas that are destroyed during urbanization,” said Rithe.

Wildlife and bird expert Gopal Thosar shared his experiences in birdwatching. The proceedings were conducted by Kaustubh Pandharipande.