107 bird species found at St Aloysius, AIMIT campuses

Mangaluru: The four-day annual Campus Bird Count event led to the identification of 36 species of birds on the campus of St Aloysius College (deemed to be university) in Mangaluru city and 71 species of birds on the campus of St Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology (AIMIT), Kotekar Beeri. This year’s count revealed exciting new additions, such as the Indian grey hornbill, buff throated babbler, glossy Ibis, paddy field pipit, stork billed kingfisher, green pigeon and little cormorant, in the lush 37-acre St Aloysius College and the verdant 17-acre AIMIT campuses. The campus bird count was held from Feb 16 to 19. A team of 35 students, guided by Glavin Thomas Rodrigues (assistant professor), Kiran Vati K (assistant professor), and Hemachandra (associate professor and HoD) in the presence of Hariprasad Shetty (assistant professor), Savia D’Souza (assistant professor) and Michelle Rodrigues (assistant professor) faculty from the department of zoology, embarked on this mission to document the feathered residents of the campuses. According to the organizers, the results were a symphony of diversity. St Aloysius witnessed the spotting of 36 species. The acrobatic antics of the greater racket-tailed drongo and the green-tailed bee-eater, the melodic calls of the jungle myna, and the vibrant flashes of the purple-rumped sunbird were just a few highlights of the bird watch. The AIMIT campus emerged as a hotspot for bird diversity, boasting a remarkable 71 species. However, as per the birdwatchers’ observation, what truly makes these campuses havens for birds is not just the number of species, but the thriving ecosystem that sustains them. The abundance of fruiting plants and trees acts as a veritable buffet for feathered gourmands while offering vital nesting sites and safe havens. The presence of numerous visible nests during the count is a testament to the balanced environment on these campuses.

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