“The Great Himalayan Bird Count, Winter of 2009” which is planned on 36 most popular trekking trails situated in the river-valleys of Tons; Yamuna; Bhagirithi; Bhilingna; Ganga; Mandakini and Alaknanda in Garhwal Himalayas including Asan & Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserves in Dehradun & Haridwar districts respectively.
The proposed dates for the Bird Count are: 7th to 10th of November, 2009
The bird count will start and finish at Dehradun
We propose 16 Groups undertaking 36 different treks of +/- 10 kms each between 7th and 10h November 2009 (Each Group size will be a maximum of five birders plus 2-3 urban school students) plus lot of local village youths, forest-line staff and govt. school students from nearby villages will join the trails at the respective count destination itself.
We are involving & encouraging young school children participation; because we at ARCH strongly feel that young minds should start thinking of Conservation involvement as an academic and career pursuit instead of just another creative past-time.
This event will be organized with the support of Forest Department, Govt. of Uttarakhand.
We are gratefully thankful to “Dr Bharat Bhusan”, who has very generously accepted the position of “Count Director” for this avian conservation initiative.
There will be an Orientation and Debriefing Workshop at Dehradun on the 7th and 10th of
November 2009 respectively.
The 7th and 10th are also the dates for to-&-fro journey to the count destinations.
Most of the groups will be undertaking two trails during the Count but one or two groups will be undertaking 3-4 trails in the Count.
It is an encounter-rate baseline data generation and conservation awareness activity involving urban and rural youth.
Participants will also enjoy an amazing Bird Photo and Bird Books Exhibition on the 7th November 2009 at the Orientation Workshop Venue at Dehradun.
Each group will accommodate some local youths and some school children from the count area and will provide required orientation & motivation to take-up bird watching as a revenue generation skill by becoming future birding guides in their village area.
Each group is encouraged to conduct a small half-hour workshop type interaction with the local village elders to generate list of vernacular names of the bird species found in different river valleys. They are also expected to document any references occurring in oral folk.
This is not a commercial activity, so we expect the participants to share the cost of lodging, Boarding & travel expenses at actuals during the count. The Participation contribution for Four days of modest travel, boarding and lodging would come to around Rs 3,000/- only. (Pl. Note: Some trails like Dayara Bugyal, Reeh (Ghuttu) and Nauri would cost a little more for purely logistic reasons).
Kindly Note: Participants who fail to register before the 15th of October 2009 will have to pay an additional Late Fee of Rs 1,500/- for ensuring their participation in the bird count.
Each participant will get a participation kit consisting of an event T-Shirt, Cap, Car Stickers, sling pen and a participation certificate plus a hard copy of the published report and a 12”x15” size group photograph taken during the orientation workshop.
During the count modest but comfortable lodging & boarding will be arranged at the FRH, PWD Inspection Bungalows and Village accommodation at some of the trails during the count.
Friends, as most of the trails require some endurance and trekking skills but we also have some very comfortable participation destinations for the elderly birdwatchers.
Friends now you know the dates, so plan your schedules accordingly and kindly let us know of your intention (with your trekking & birding experience of Himalayan bird species) to participate in this wonderful himalayan birding opportunity at the earliest.
Kindly take an early booking initiative to avoid any disappointments later by sending in your Registration Application along with a Demand Draft for Rs 3000/- per person now or
A Non-Refundable Registration Booking can also be made directly by depositing Rs 1500/- cash or by cheque on any branch of Indian Bank in your town / city favoring “ACTION & RESEARCH FOR CONSERVATION IN HIMALAYAS, DEHRADUN” in our Current A/c No. 794568161 for Dehradun Branch, Uttarakhand.
Pl. Note: Participation is only subject to final written confirmation from ARCH office.
Each Group size is restricted to 7-9 birders only, so please hurry...
On hearing from you we’ll furnish you the Count Trails and Registration Details at the outset.
Garhwal is a divine place to visit for a truly amazing himalayan birding (it would be mostly Lifers for many of you) & a memorable mountain trekking experience.
“Happy Birding and May you have many rare sightings and new records”
Regards
Prateek Panwar
Founder Trustee
Action & Research for Conservation in Himalayas
MDDA Duplex Villa # 3, Sahastradhara Road,
Opp. Petrol Pump, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 INDIA
Tel# 9412054216
(0135)2114649
Email: arch.himalayas@yahoo.co.in
arch.birdcount@yahoo.in
IMPORTANT: Participants will be governed by the provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 & Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in addition to the other laws of the land.
Please Note: As an effort to bring our organization on sustainable economic footing we also design & execute special designed mountain bird watching n trekking camps also on offer are wildlife safaris in Rajaji National Park on request for schools and corporate houses. Support our cause by visiting our area for a himalayan birding, wildlife and trekking experience.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
Last Date to submit Participation Form: 30th September 2009
Last Date to submit Participation Fee: 15th October 2009
Last Date to submit Late Participation Fee: 5TH November 2009
Arrival at Dehradun: 7th of Nov 2009 latest by 0900 hrs for the Orientation.
Actual Count Days: 8th and 9th of Nov 2009
Debriefing Workshop at Dehradun: Starting at 1430 hrs. on the 10th of Nov 2009.
Recommended Field Guides for this count exercise:
• “A Field Guide to the Birds of India”
Authored by: Krys Kazmierczak
Illustrated by: Ber Van Perlo
• “Pocket Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent”
Authored by: Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp & Tim Inskipp
Published by: Oxford University Press.
PROFILE OF THE ORGANIZERS:
“Action & Research for Conservation in Himalayas – ARCH” is established for beneficial promotion and to save the endangered animal and plant life-forms and their habitats in the country with special emphasis to its avifaunal diversity. India is at the tri junction of three bio-geographical realms. Due to extensive use of chemical manuring, insecticides, pesticides etc, loss of habitat, environmental pollution, use of drugs such as Diclofinac etc with avifaunal diversity now most threatened in our country. With Himalayan Quail and Pink Headed Duck already feared to be extinct, whereas Jerodn’s Courser, Son-Chirya and Spotted Owlet are at the verge of extinction. It is strongly felt that the endangered flora & fauna, especially the birds cannot be saved without active support & efforts of all sections of society. The involvements of various organizations and individuals the world over would be required jointly with the government efforts to conserve the species diversity. “ARCH” is being formed with its primary objectives of
strengthening species conservation in India .
source: Nathistory
You need to be a member of Paryavaran.com- Indian Environment Network to add comments!
Replies