Symphony of Feathers: St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) Showcase Avian Abundance in Annual Bird Count 2024
Mangaluru: Imagine a bustling college campus, not outlined by the hum of lectures, however by the joyful refrain of birdsong. This is the truth at St Aloysius College (deemed to be a college) in Mangaluru, India. For the sixth consecutive 12 months, these inexperienced havens reworked into avian remark zones throughout the annual Campus Bird Count, a citizen science initiative.
An enthusiastic workforce of 35 college students, guided by Glavin Thomas Rodrigues (assistant professor), KiranVati Ok (assistant professor) and Dr Hemachandra (affiliate professor and HOD) within the lively presence of Hariprasad Shetty (assistant professor), Savia D’Souza (assistant professor) and Michelle Rodrigues (assistant professor) school from the Department of Zoology, launched into a mission to doc the feathered residents. Their quest led them by the luxurious 37-acre St Aloysius College (deemed to be college), a sanctuary amidst the city panorama, and the verdant 17-acre AIMIT campus close to Kotekar Beeri.
The outcomes have been a symphony of variety. St Aloysius College (deemed to be college) witnessed a charming spectacle of 36 species, every including a novel melody to the campus soundscape. The acrobatic antics of the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and the Green-tailed bee-eater, the melodic calls of the Jungle Myna, and the colourful flashes of the Purple-rumped sunbird have been just some highlights. Even majestic predators just like the Black Kite, Brahminy Kite and Shikra soared overhead, including a contact of drama to the avian ensemble.
Meanwhile, the AIMIT campus emerged as a hotspot for hen variety, boasting a outstanding 71 species. This 12 months’s depend revealed thrilling new additions, such because the Indian gray hornbill, Buff throated babbler, Glossy Ibis, Paddy subject pipit, Stork billed kingfisher, Green pigeon and Little cormorant. Notably, AIMIT’s dedication to inexperienced areas earned it recognition as an eBird Hotspot in 2022, additional solidifying its significance as a haven for avian life.
But what actually makes these campuses havens for birds is not only the variety of species, however the thriving ecosystem that sustains them. The abundance of fruiting crops and bushes acts as a veritable buffet for feathered gourmands whereas providing important nesting websites and protected havens. The presence of quite a few seen nests throughout the depend is a testomony to the balanced setting that these campuses present.
The Campus Bird Count is way more than only a numbers sport; it’s a window into the well being of our city ecosystems. By conducting these annual surveys, St Aloysius (deemed to be college) campuses aren’t solely contributing worthwhile information to nationwide and international hen conservation efforts, but in addition setting an inspiring instance for different establishments.
Report by: Kiran Vati Ok, Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, St Aloysius (Deemed to be University)
