SRINAGAR: ‘Birds of Kashmir’ launched its first bird calendar this year on Wednesday. The bird calendar was launched at Kashmir Haat Srinagar by Mahmood Ahmad Shah Director handicrafts and Raashid Naqash regional wildlife warden Kashmir.
The event was attended by Sarwandeep Singh (author and birder from Delhi), Irfan Jeelani (founder of birds of Kashmir) Ovais Mir (DFO Sindh), Mudassar Ahmad ( coordinator WUCMA) and other members of the group.
Irfan Jeelani gave a brief introduction about the group and its future endeavors. Sarwandeep Singh discussed the scope of birding and bird tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. Raashid Naqash while addressing the gathering promised wildlife departments full support and appreciated the efforts of ‘Birds of Kashmir’ in recording new bird species for Jammu and Kashmir.
Mahmood Ahmad Shah while addressing the audience encouraged the group and promised his full support for exploring new areas.
Birds of Kashmir group was founded in March 2020 when the covid-19 lockdown was implemented.
The birders around the world were watching their backyards and balconies for birds and with this idea, a Facebook group was created.
The group grew very fast and thousands of members joined it and started posting pictures from their balconies and backyards.
When lockdown eased out, these new members started exploring their neighborhood for birds and it is amazing that new records were created, new bird sightings and photographic evidences were recorded.
This group is credited to have recorded Pallas’s rosefinch (ist record for Indian subcontinent), Duraian redstart ( ist record for J&K), Blyth’s rosefinch (ist records for J&K), little bunting (ist record from the valley) etc.
The group intends to train local youth for bird guiding and also intends to establish a ‘bird rescue centre in Kashmir’. The group has about 5000 Facebook members and expanding.
