The HSBC Kerala Bird Race 2018 was held in Kochi and surrounding areas on 30th December 2018.Birdwatchers and Nature enthusiasts from Ernakulam, Thrissur, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Idukki and even Tamilnadu actively took part in the annual event which is in its 12th year running. This year a total of 247 species of birds were recorded as opposed to 200 species last year.10740 individual birds were encountered as opposed to 5920 last year.
The birds sighted include 14 species of raptors (Greater Spotted Eagle, Rufous Bellied Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Crested Honey Buzzard etc.,) 7 species of woodpeckers including Greater Flameback. Largest number of a species sighted was 1000 Lesser Whistling Duck.
The highlight of the event (Bird of the Day) was sighting of a rare Eastern Orphean Warbler (Sylvia crassirostris) at Kalappara near Thattekkad, by Ginu George.
This is only the second sighting from Ernakulam. The previous sighting was in 2007.
Other highlights The area covered during the Bird Race were the wetlands of Ernakulam , Thrissur and northern end of Alappuzha, Eastern hilly region of Ernakulam and bordering Idukki ,
Various teams o birders were guided by Anoop C R, Basil Peter,Dr.Dilip K G Ginu George Mukundan K, Ijas Muhammed , Premchand Reghuvaran Manoj P G Vishnupriyan Kartha. K Prasanth T S ,Manoj K etc.,
