20 January,2026 09:16 PM IST | Maharashtra | Ranjeet Jadhav
The course was held at Nandur-Madhmeshwar Ramsar site, which is known for hosting a wide variety of migratory birds.
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) successfully conducted a three-day Basic Ornithology Course at the Nandur-Madhmeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. The course was organised from January 16 to 18.
The three-day hands-on course introduced participants to bird identification, monitoring techniques, and wetland conservation at a key Ramsar Site. It aimed to educate participants on the importance of birds, bird-counting techniques, and bird ringing, while providing hands-on field experience at one of Maharashtra's most important wetland sites.
Organised independently, the course by BNHS was open to participants from across Maharashtra. A total of 15 participants registered, out of which 13 attended, including birdwatchers, students, naturalists, and nature enthusiasts with a strong interest in wildlife conservation.
The inaugural session of the course was hosted by the range forest officer of Nandur-Madhmeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Hiralal Chaudhari.
Chaudhari highlighted the ecological importance of the sanctuary, a Ramsar site located near Niphad in the Nashik district. Known for hosting a wide variety of migratory birds during winter, the sanctuary provided an ideal setting for the course.
Participants were enlightened about the scientific methods of bird counting, bird migration studies, and bird ringing through classroom sessions and extensive fieldwork.
Furthermore, eleven birds were ringed during the program, including an individual of Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla).
During the course, the participants were taught about birding sessions that included the recording of notable sightings such as Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata), large numbers of Common Crane (Grus grus) across all three days, and roosting sites of Harriers along the sanctuary fringes; a breeding colony of Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) and Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) was also documented.
Adding to the excitement, some participants sighted a leopard on 17 January.
The importance of the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) was discussed in detail, and participants were given the opportunity to take part in the census.
Sharad Apte conducted a session highlighting the role of bird vocalisations in ornithological studies and shared his extensive field experience with the group.
Discussions also focused on the importance of bird ringing in wetlands and urban landscapes, along with exchanging ideas for conservation.
Despite challenges such as the irregular power supply and the distance between the sanctuary and the auditorium, which required frequent travel for field and classroom sessions, the program was conducted successfully.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the course, actively engaged in discussions, and showed interest in attending advanced ornithology sessions in the future.
The Basic Ornithology Course, which has been conducted at Nandur-Madhmeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary on several occasions, proved to be an effective platform for building scientific understanding and fostering a strong conservation mindset among nature enthusiasts.
