PANAJI: Driven by the exposure provided by social media, Goa is increasingly becoming a ‘must-do’ destination for serious birdwatchers from India and even Europe; January-February being the peak months for this activity in the state.With over 470 resident and migratory birds, Goa offers a high concentration of diversity of bird species. Compare this to the 500-odd birds listed so far in Karnataka, a state with a much larger geographical area.Around this increased interest in birdwatching, has evolved an ecosystem which offers commercial guiding, birdwatching boatrides and homestays in the Western Ghats region running through Goa.“The number of birdwatchers coming to Goa has gone up hugely because of the internet and social media like Twitter and Facebook. Birders who come to Goa post photos online on their return and this helps generate interest. Today, the state gets every type of birdwatcher from beginners that come on weekend trips to Europeans who come through a travel agent for a 15-week trip,” said Omkar Dharwadkar, president of the Goa Bird Conservation Network.What makes Goa an ideal bird destination for every kind of birders is not only that the state has high concentration of 473 birds of the 10,000 listed globally for such a small geographical area, but that Goa also offers birds from a diversity of habitats.“It is the only state where you can cover all habitats from sea to forests in a single day. The distances are short and areas are accessible,” said Dharwadkar.As more birders explore Goa, the areas they sift through has also widened. Earlier, only Carambolim lake, Salim Ali Wildlife Sanctuary in Chorao, Tambdi Surla, and Bondla were favourites. Now added to this list are Maina Curtorim lake, Cumbharjua canal, Divar island, and Verna plateau, among others.Mandar Bhagat, who is one of the reviewers for Goa’s bird repository portal, said, “Earlier photography was restricted to a certain section. Now that is not the case. Initially, the number of guided tours and birding related activities were limited. Now, there are many who offer these activities commercially.”Seeing this increasing interest in birdwatching in Goa, the birders in the state have also begun offering regular pelagic boatrides, for birdwatching out into the sea. “Pelagic birdwatching is not for everyone. It is only for hardcore birdwatchers. One, it is expensive. And secondly, there is no guarantee of spotting birds and it is very taxing physically too to be out at sea through the day,” said Dharwadkar.The state primarily receives birdwatchers from Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru on a regular basis, but also from West Bengal and Delhi as Goa offers them the opportunity to see birds which are not spotted in North India.Goa Bird Conservation Network has also been instrumental in generating interest in birdwatching locally. “In close to five years, the network has held 54 bird walks, one every first Sunday of the month,” said Bhagat.GFXSpotting Feathered FriendsGoa ranks high on birdwatchers’ lists due to the following:High concentration of 473 birds in a small geographical areaAll habitats from wetlands to sea to forests and hills availableBird habitats are easily accessibleGoa is home to many Western Ghats endemic birds, which are found only in Southern parts of the ghatsPelagic birding available on a regular basisWinged WishlistBirdwatchers come to Goa to catch sight of the following:Vigors’s sunbird, Oriental dwarf kingfisher, Malabar trogon, Collard kingfisher (including a sub-species of Collard kingfisher believed to be endemic to Goa)Other species to watch are:Grey-headed bulbul, Blue-ear kingfisher, Sri Lankan frogmouth, White-bellied woodpecker , Flame-throated bulbul (Goa’s state bird), Vernal hanging parrotWhat beginners can do:· Join birdwatching groups on Facebook· Take a membership of the Goa Bird Conservation Network at a rate of Rs 400 for one year, renewal for subsequent years is Rs 350. For students, it is Rs 150 annually· It is best to start birdwatching from the wetlands as birds are clearly visibly here· Goa Bird Conservation Network presently has 150 members

Stay updated with all the Latest Goa headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.