Panaji (Goa) The second edition of Bird Festival will be held at Cotigao wildlife sanctuary from January 12-14.

Forest Department in association with Goa Tourism Department, Economic Development Corporation and Goa Bird Conservation Network is holding the festival. The first edition was held in November 2016.

Addressing media persons, Principal Conservator of Forest (PCF) Ajay Saxena said that in order to showcase the rich biodiversity of birds inhabiting our protected areas, wetlands and coatal waters, the department has organize the festival for bird enthusiasts, nature lovers and ornithologists from all over India.

Saxena said that of the total 1224 bird species recorded in India, Goa has recorded 450 species, which also include some endangered one. “Bird watching is fast developing as one of the key activity of the discerning tourists coming to Goa,” he said.

For the Bird Festival, so far 35 delegates have registered that includes a couple from Sri Lanka and a bird lover from USA.

During the three-day festival, Goa will host some of the India’s well known naturalists, bird experts, photographers and artists as resource persons.