The Bengaluru Bird Race will take place for the sixth time on January 15. Part of a series of city-specific Bird Races conducted in several Indian metros, it is supported by HSBC Bank. In this dawn-to-dusk event, teams of bird enthusiasts, beginners and experts, spend the day recording the birds they spot in and around the metropolitan regions. Experienced bird-watchers provide leadership to this unique event. The teams head out to wooded areas, water bodies and forests around Bengaluru to count the birds.

As many as 286 species of birds were sighted on a single day during the Mumbai Bird Race one year--the highest number spotted within and around any metropolitan city in daylight hours. During the 2011 Bird Race in Bengaluru, a team sighted 238 different species of birds in the middle of Bengaluru.

“The most exciting aspect of this Bird Race is that it offers a unique platform for beginners, and especially children, to get together with experienced birdwatchers, spend an entire day spotting and identifying birds in an effort to record as many species of birds as possible. They will also learn about the finer points of bird watching from experts. Later, all teams will meet at a venue over dinner and an interactive get-together where everyone shares their experience,” said one of the organisers. Positioned as a fun event, the Bird Race generates awareness among people about bird life surrounding the region and supports the conservation of nature and the environment. Over time it gives a good idea of the region's avifauna and the problems the species faces.