St Aloysius University campuses celebrate Bird Diversity, during the 2025 Campus Bird Count event
Mangaluru: The air buzzed with excitement at St Aloysius (Deemed to be University) in Mangaluru and Kotekar Beeri. From February 14th to 17th, the campuses transformed into a haven for birdwatchers as they joined the global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) through the Campus Bird Count (CBC). Students, faculty, and bird enthusiasts, armed with cameras, binoculars, and notebooks, became citizen scientists, eager to uncover the avian secrets hidden within the university grounds.
The four-day count revealed a vibrant tapestry of birdlife. The Mangaluru campus, nestled across 37 acres, yielded sightings of 31 distinct species. Meanwhile, the 17-acre AIMIT campus in Kotekar Beeri proved even richer, boasting an impressive 45 species. Among the feathered residents, greater racket-tailed drongos, jungle and common mynas, rock pigeons, purple-rumped sunbirds, pale-billed flowerpeckers, Asian koels, oriental magpie robins, red-whiskered bulbuls, and the dazzling Indian golden oriole were common sights across both locations.
The CBC, an annual event coordinated by Bird Count India in partnership with eBIRD, transforms campuses across the country into living laboratories. From educational institutions to corporate offices, participants contribute valuable data to the larger GBBC, documenting avian populations and their movements.
The AIMIT campus, in particular, offered a glimpse of rarities like the majestic Serpent eagle and the elegant Black-naped monarch, Nilgiri flowerpecker, the elusive Asian brown and brown-breasted flycatchers, the shimmering golden-fronted leafbird, the shy orange-headed thrush, and even more sightings of the captivating Paradise flycatchers. Large birds of prey, like the black and brahminy kites, soared overhead. Bird visitors, including the Indian paradise flycatcher, the vibrant blue-tailed bee-eater, and the gregarious chestnut-tailed starlings, painted the skies with their fleeting presence.
St. Aloysius College has been a dedicated participant in the CBC since 2018. The 2025 count was a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Department of Zoology. Assistant Professors Ms Savia D’Souza and Mr Kiran Vati K, under the guidance of Dr. Hemachandra (Associate Professor and HoD), along with the support of Dr. Hariprasad and Mr. Glavin Rodrigues, orchestrated the event. Twenty-five enthusiastic students from various disciplines, along with alumni Ms. Shlaghana Jain, Mr. Mrinal, and Mr. Reginald, joined the ranks of birdwatchers, contributing their time and passion to this valuable citizen science initiative. Their combined efforts painted a vivid picture of the diverse birdlife thriving within the heart of St. Aloysius University, a testament to the importance of urban green spaces for avian conservation.
