Kudla Birders record 73 species during Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count
- Birding outing at Manjalpaade and Bondel highlights the rich biodiversity of Mangaluru’s urban wetlands
Mangaluru: Fifteen members of the informal birding group Kudla Birders recorded 73 bird species during an outing to the wetlands of Manjalpaade and Bondel in Mangaluru on Sunday, November 1, as part of the Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count 2026, a statewide citizen-science initiative organised by Bird Count India.
The morning’s sightings were documented through an eBird checklist. Notable species included the Grey-headed Bulbul and Malabar Flameback, both endemic to with the Western Ghats, along with the Western Marsh Harrier, Changeable Hawk-Eagle and Black-throated Munia.
Deepika Prasad, Vivek M and Rohit S. Rao of Kudla Birders coordinated the outing. The walk was led by Rohit S. Rao, who has been observing the birdlife of the Manjalpaade area for more than 40 years.
Speaking about the importance of conserving urban natural habitats, Rohit Rao said that Mangaluru had several small pockets of natural habitat, such as Manjalpaade, which supported a surprising variety of birds and other wildlife. “Many of these spaces are increasingly coming under pressure from urbanisation, trespassing and littering, making greater public awareness and collective efforts to protect them essential,” he said.
Through its participation in the statewide count, Kudla Birders hopes to encourage wider public interest in birdwatching while highlighting the ecological importance of Mangaluru’s urban forest patches and wetlands and the need to conserve them for future generations.