Uttarayan- Kite flying festival is celebrated on the 14th and 15th of January every year in India. Kite-flying participants use glass coated threads - "Manja" to fly kites that cause severe wing injuries to thousands of birds. Many such injured birds succumb to painful deaths while others are maimed for rest of their lives. We organize a special annual campaign - " Uttarayan Save the Birds Campaign", in an attempt to save and rehabilitate as many injured birds as possible.
Ahmedabad is home to over 250 species of birds,kite flying festival is held in Jan, yet it often begins earlier in Dec, which also coincides with the season for migratory birds & nesting of native birds. The sharp thread inflicts major damage to life and limb of these birds, 82% was the survival ratio for last year of which 45% were released back in the wild. The loose "manja" which is heavily deposited on trees, poles, overhead cables, etc. keep trapping birds for many months upto May.
Enables us to rescue, treat & rehabilitate over 8000 injured, ill, orphaned & displaced birds of 100 species, from Dec to May, using scientific guidelines & protocols. To further improve treatment, post-operative care, food & quality of captive management of injured birds. We also train avian rescuers,rehabilitators, veterinarians from various organizations across India. Awareness & Education is key, we organize programs at schools,colleges, religious org, government & corporate sectors.
Conservation of endangered & common bird species of Ahmedabad through scientific rehabilitation & public education, slowing the decline of endangered species. Reducing impact of kite flying among the masses & increasing awareness. Data collected during the campaign is used for scientific research;Forest dept,Municipal corporation,Veterinary sector etc. policy making for habitat protection. Critically Endangered birds that are disabled are used for captive breeding programs.
This project has provided additional documentation in a DOCX file (projdoc.docx).
