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Pongal Bird Count 2016
15 Jan 2016 - 18 Jan 2016
Tamilbirds > Pongal Bird Count > Pongal Bird Count 2016
Media coverage
Day-by-day happenings PBC 2016
NEW! Summary of Pongal Bird Count 2016
You can download a pdf [3.5Mb] with summary results and comments from participants.
(Updated 22 April 2016.)
What
The Pongal Bird Count, an initiative of the Tamil Birders Network, is an annual bird monitoring program for Tamil Nadu, akin to Onam Bird Count in Kerala.
When
Pongal Bird Count (PBC) took place on 15-18th January 2016.
How
Go birding for at least 15 min, listing and counting all the species you see. It doesn’t matter if you can’t identify every single species — what you can identify is good enough! Login to ebird.org/content/india and submit your species list. For those new to eBird, see the brief description here, and do go through our beginner’s guide and make sure you create an account and start using eBird right away to get used to the platform. If you own a smartphone, you can create an account in eBird first and then find the eBird app for iPhone/Android users, install it and submit your bird list into eBird through that app. See here for more details.
Please try to upload as many 15 minute lists into eBird (ebird.org/india) during the Pongal bird Count.
Introduction to eBird
If you are a birdwatcher who has not tried eBird or have bird-watcher friends who are not using eBird, please use these slides as an introduction. You can find the Tamil version of the same presentation here (PDF & JPEG).
Introduction to Birds and Birdwatching
If you are planning to coordinate a birding event during the Pongal Bird Count and would like to introduce college/school students and general public you can use this “An Introduction to Birds and Birdwatching” presentation from this page. In addition to that you can also use the following presentation “Some Common Birds of Tamil Nadu – A Pictorial Guide” (PDF and JPEG).
If you have any questions, please do ask them in the comments below.
Is the pongal bird count only within Tamil Nadu state limits? If yes, how do you deal with Karnataka birds which sometimes spend pongal in that state?
Thanks Prashanth. Although this event is termed as Pongal Bird Count it is certainly not only for Tamil Nadu. Any Ven/Sakkarai Pongal eating person in this world who are interested in birding/listing can participate in this count. It doesn’t matter where they are doing this but it would be nice if they are within TN limits. Even if one do not like eating pongal if they like watching birds can participate in this event…;)
Is there any group bird count in chennai?
If so iwould like to join.
Dear Kalai Selvi,
Thanks for your interest. Please contact Madras Naturalist Society. There are some plans for public events during Pongal holidays but we will get back to you once it is confirmed.
As you may aware birds are almost everywhere. You can start watching birds from your home and submit the list to eBird. Or if there are any nearby park, waterbody, playground please visit there for watching birds.
You can also visit these MNS sites to contact them about the events planned
http://www.blackbuck.org.in/contact.php
and their FB page
https://www.facebook.com/Madras-Naturalists-Society-156698954357661/
Also put your query here
https://m.facebook.com/events/upcoming?ref=bookmarks&app_id=2344061033
Dear Kalai Selvi,
MNS is organising a Pongal Bird Count Session at the Perumbakkam Tank, Shollinganallur on Sat, Jan. 16 at 6.45 a.m. Reporting Place: Bus Stand opp IT Park near Toll Plaza in Perumbakkam.
Hi, I’m Amalan from Chennai. I’m planning to do bird count in and around Pallikaranai and Perumbakkam tank on 16th Jan, 6 to 9 am. Would anyone like to join? Please mail me a.siluvai@gmail.com
P.Jeganathan,
Orinithologist, Chennai
Dear P.Jeganathan,
W wshs, for a great task which you have taken up. Appreciate you and your team for doing all the good work. I am a resident of Hiranandani at Egattur, just across our area. I have spotted a colony of say 200 + birds, in the Muthukadu lake. in the evenings all of them return to a grove of huge banyan trees, on the Kannathur side. This area where their roosting is at a farm house at Kannathur, and is on a lane connected to the main ECR, on the lane is also a mosque, This flock is mostly cranes, and also see 5 to 6 big birds, resembling pelican.. You may depute some one a better birder than me to check out the same area, at your convenience.
I can be contacted on my mobile 9840226049, suggest send me an sms and then call, because of connectivity problem, in our area. W wshs,
Ajit Seshadri
Dear Ajit,
Thanks for this information. Shall let Chennai birders know about this and ask them to contact. Meanwhile please do see of you can identify these birds based on the resources provided above in this page and try to upload your observations on eBird. Thanks.
Hi Jagan,
I would Like to make a story for my website about your bird count event. So kindly send me ur contact details to my email. Or else give me a call to mobile 9655900920
Where can I do this in Pondy?
There are various excellent birding locations in and around Pondy such as Kaliveli lake (http://ebird.org/ebird/india/hotspot/L2528909)
Osudu lake (http://ebird.org/ebird/india/hotspots?hs=L2147802&yr=all&m=)
Thank you, sir… for our kid’s pic