The Pongal Bird Count begins on January 14

The Pongal Bird Count this year encourages enthusiasts to record birds from terraces, balconies, and places not far from home

The Malabar whistling thrush, a song bird of the Western Ghats, whistling a melodious tune perched on a tree is a familiar sight in Valparai near Coimbatore. Forested areas are aflutter with high-pitched sounds of the wispy little greenish warbler that goes sti-ti-ti-ti-ti-si... and the guttural teek teek of the Indian blue robin. “Instead of stepping out as a group, school students in and around Valparai will identify and record every bird they hear and see at their homes during the upcoming Pongal Bird Count,” says K Selvaganesh, a school teacher in Valparai who actively takes part in birding every year.

The Pongal Bird Count (PBC) that happens from January 14 to 17 is an annual bird monitoring programme where people across Tamil Nadu observe birds for a minimum of 15 minutes and upload the sightings on an online platform (ebird). The event is coordinated by the Tamil Birders Network and Bird Count India.