it could seem onerous to consider, but the Osmania University campus, right in the middle of the town, is in truth home to dozens of various species of birds, including some uncommon migratory birds that fly as much as 20,000 kms to achieve here. In truth, OU used to be the only school campus in Hyderabad the place the Campus Bird Count 2018 used to be held as a part of Great Backyard Bird Count performed this yr from February 16-19 in Telangana. And, city birder Raghunathan spotted a whopping 80 different chicken species on the campus on a unmarried day!
An avid birder for the past 3 years, Raghunathan who frequents the sprawling 1600-acre campus admits that he too used to be taken by way of marvel by way of the sheer number of birds he used to be in a position to identify.
“To be frank, I started my passion by way of exploring OU because it used to be the greenest place close to my space. I have been birding incessantly for the past 3 years, but what I noticed on February 17 stunned me. There’s a small pond on campus the place lots of the birds come to drink water, so I patiently waited there recording each and every chicken and listening to them chirp. I began the survey at 12 pm by way of 6 pm I had spotted 80 species, including many uncommon migratory birds. I feel that is an enviable figure for the reason that campus is situated in the middle of the town amid lot of site visitors and human disturbances,” mentioned the 24-year-old Padma Rao Nagar resident who used to be the only registered campus chicken watcher this yr.
The findings of the survey were later uploaded on the site of the international birding site, ebird.org, which gives an internet database of chicken observations everywhere the sector.
What overjoyed Raghunathan maximum used to be the fact that he used to be in a position to identify elusive birds like Hair-Crested-Drongo, which another way favor thick and dark forests. “This means that OU has actual possible to change into a big spot for birders. unfortunately, this spot has been overpassed by way of city birders as smartly,” he says, adding that migratory birds like Forest Wagtail, Olive Backed Pipit, Taiga Flycatcher and Red Breasted Flycatcher, which have a protracted flying range of as much as 20,000 km come to stay on the OU campus all over the winter, from September to February. “The Forest Wagtail flies as much as Africa; India is just a quick pitstop for the chicken, which breeds in Russia, China and Indonesia,” mentioned Raghunathan who points out that lots of the winged visitors to OU come from far flug spaces across the snow-filled Himalayan ranges.
Apart from migratory birds, OU has many species of not unusual birds like parrot, and owls which might be noticed in huge numbers, mentioned Raghunathan.
This information has gotten birding enthusiasts in the city excited. They are of the view that OU has the prospective to emerge as a sizzling spot for city birders. “OU campus gives a wide range natural habitats for birds and we've got spotted many uncommon birds incessantly here. Day by way of day, birding is bettering. If extra birders make the campus their most popular destination, extra species shall be recorded,” shared Abhishek Ravindra of Hyderabad Birding Pals.
GREEN OASIS IN DANGER NOW?
However, recent building activities like development of new hostels are posing a big challenge to the natural habitats, rue birders, adding that fires can get away in the campus anytime because of dumping of rubbish. “All this greenery can also be reduced to mere ash in summer season, if the government don't take the necessary measures,” added Raghunathan.
An avid birder for the past 3 years, Raghunathan who frequents the sprawling 1600-acre campus admits that he too used to be taken by way of marvel by way of the sheer number of birds he used to be in a position to identify.
“To be frank, I started my passion by way of exploring OU because it used to be the greenest place close to my space. I have been birding incessantly for the past 3 years, but what I noticed on February 17 stunned me. There’s a small pond on campus the place lots of the birds come to drink water, so I patiently waited there recording each and every chicken and listening to them chirp. I began the survey at 12 pm by way of 6 pm I had spotted 80 species, including many uncommon migratory birds. I feel that is an enviable figure for the reason that campus is situated in the middle of the town amid lot of site visitors and human disturbances,” mentioned the 24-year-old Padma Rao Nagar resident who used to be the only registered campus chicken watcher this yr.
The findings of the survey were later uploaded on the site of the international birding site, ebird.org, which gives an internet database of chicken observations everywhere the sector.
What overjoyed Raghunathan maximum used to be the fact that he used to be in a position to identify elusive birds like Hair-Crested-Drongo, which another way favor thick and dark forests. “This means that OU has actual possible to change into a big spot for birders. unfortunately, this spot has been overpassed by way of city birders as smartly,” he says, adding that migratory birds like Forest Wagtail, Olive Backed Pipit, Taiga Flycatcher and Red Breasted Flycatcher, which have a protracted flying range of as much as 20,000 km come to stay on the OU campus all over the winter, from September to February. “The Forest Wagtail flies as much as Africa; India is just a quick pitstop for the chicken, which breeds in Russia, China and Indonesia,” mentioned Raghunathan who points out that lots of the winged visitors to OU come from far flug spaces across the snow-filled Himalayan ranges.
Apart from migratory birds, OU has many species of not unusual birds like parrot, and owls which might be noticed in huge numbers, mentioned Raghunathan.
This information has gotten birding enthusiasts in the city excited. They are of the view that OU has the prospective to emerge as a sizzling spot for city birders. “OU campus gives a wide range natural habitats for birds and we've got spotted many uncommon birds incessantly here. Day by way of day, birding is bettering. If extra birders make the campus their most popular destination, extra species shall be recorded,” shared Abhishek Ravindra of Hyderabad Birding Pals.
GREEN OASIS IN DANGER NOW?
However, recent building activities like development of new hostels are posing a big challenge to the natural habitats, rue birders, adding that fires can get away in the campus anytime because of dumping of rubbish. “All this greenery can also be reduced to mere ash in summer season, if the government don't take the necessary measures,” added Raghunathan.
80 avian species recorded at bird count in OU
![80 avian species recorded at bird count in OU]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 23, 2018
Rating:
