Walks, lectures and much more to mark World Bird Festival

By Salma Yusuf

This weekend, October 7 and 8, thousands of people will be bird watching as the World Bird Watch weekend kick starts a month-long celebration of birds.

The World Bird Festival, which celebrates the incredible variety and beauty of the world's wealth of birds, by highlighting their importance to people and cultures, is the biggest bird watching event in the world.

"Though the festival will be celebrated across the globe, the focus this year will be on the Asian region," says President of the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, Prof. Sarath Kotagama, of the University of Colombo.

"The World Bird Watch festival encourages the conservation of birds through activities including nature walks, indoor meetings, lectures, seminars, films, music, theatre, children's events and exhibitions," Prof. Kotagama said.

The Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka (FOGSL), the local body of Bird Life International has organized events to celebrate this international event.

Interestingly, the 2006 World Bird Festival coincides with the 30th Anniversary of FOGSL, Prof. Kotagama said.

A bird-watching workshop will be held for those interested in this fascinating hobby at the NBLT Auditorium of the Colombo University on October 28. The workshop is focused on introducing the participants to the basic equipment used and techniques of bird watching, and important birding sites in the country. The workshop will be free of charge and those interested will have to register through the society's website or by contacting the FOGSL secretariat at the University of Colombo.

FOGSL is also keen to promote the link between birds and people through this festival and hopes to empower local groups to take action for the protection of Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka.