The three-day birdwatching and bird guide training programme of the Himal Kala Sutra festival concluded at Sarmoli, Munsiyari after training on bird identification, observation of bird behavior, presentations and discussion on birdwatching and conservation, among other activities. The programme was part of a seven-day festival that also includes cultural activities including art, photography, stories that get expressed through creative writing, movement and drama. A total of about 70 people took part in the birdwatching programme including residents of villages in Munsiyari area, Askot Sanctuary area (Khartoli, Shiling), students of Himalayan Intercollege Chaukori and Junglee School Munsiyari, staff of Forest Department, and enthusiasts from parts of India.
They were able to spot or hear about 85 species of birds, out of a total checklist of 327 species that are found in the Gori basin of which Munsiyari is a part. This was a marked improvement over last year’s sighting of about 70 species at the 2014 Himal Kala Sutra festival. including pied thrush (globally vulnerable), white-tailed robin, blackwinged cuckoo-shrike, Besra sparrowhawk, Kalij pheasant, crested serpent eagle, mountain hawk eagle, four species each of cuckoos and woodpeckers among others were sighted by the participants.