The
11th Birding Fair at Jaipur's Man Sagar Lake was held on 8 and 9 February
2008. It was dedicated to “Peacock”, the National Bird
of India, which is facing precarious time for its survival due to
poaching (for feathers and meat), and the impact of pesticides over
its feed.
The Publication marking the Fair describes Pheasants in India and the measures being taken to conserve Man Sagar Lake.
The Fair was sponsored by (i) INTACH, a National level organisation in India working for conservation of heritage for more than two decades (ii) Jal Mahal Resorts Pvt. Ltd (JMRPL), the company that has initiated multi-pronged actions to conserve Man Sagar Lake and Jal Mahal (iii) World Pheasant Association – India (iv) Mrs. (Dr.) Rajkumari Williamson Jones, a Scientist and Conservationist from UK (v) Dr Tom Jones, a Scientist and Industrialist of repute from UK (vi) Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) (vii) WWF-India (ix) Schools of India.
Representatives from these Organisations along with Dr. Rajkumari Jones and Dr. Tom Jones participated in the Fair and interacted with the large number of participants gathered at the impressive embankment of the Lake. Mr. Peter A. Kaestner, a renowned Bird Watcher from USA, led the event and gave an impressive talk. Mr. N. R. Kothari, the main promoter of the private enterprise at this Lake (JMRPL), was delighted to see the event and while addressing the gathering remarked, ‘we will make Man Sagar Lake another Keoladeo National Park by improving the water quality and thereby inviting more migratory birds here.’
A
large portrait of Siberian Crane, drawn and donated by the famed Canadian
Artist, Robert Bateman was presented to the sponsoring guests on the
occasion. Twelve expert Bird Watchers came all the way from Keoladeo
National Park, Bharatpur to Guide and Train participants into observing
Birds of this Lake and to inform them about their migration habits.
Great fun and loads of Bird Conservation Education for two days, free
of cost.
