Birds Injured During the Festival of Kite Flying At Bhavnagar (Gujarat) on
14 January 2005.

Bhavnagar city is well-known among the birdwatchers of Gujarat state because of the nesting of the beautiful bird Painted Stark. In the center of the city a beautiful garden is situated closely to an artificial lake constructed by the Rajavis of Bhavnagar. About more than 250nests of the starks are reported in the garden premises. Apart from this, high bird diversity is also reported in the city.

The kite flying festival is very enjoying festival. All age group people as well as men and women take part in it. The Gujarat government also celebrates the festival.

Though it is widely accepted occasion, one misfortune about it is that many birds get injured during the kite flying activity by its string which is coated with glass powder. We appealed the local people to call us for relief if they found any injured bird. Our member quickly response them and treat them. We used forest department’s help to keep the birds till they found recovered. Only on the day of 14 January 2004, we received more than 60 calls for injured birds. Unfortunately most of them were not curable; about 25 birds were released in their habitat.

an injured juvenile stark

members appling antiseptic to injured wing of a pegion

persons removing string from a pegion's wing