Port Blair, Oct. 9: The Andaman Avians Club successfully organized the Andaman Bird Marathon 2025 on Sunday, 5th October 2025, uniting bird enthusiasts, naturalists, and conservationists from across the islands for a full day of birding, observation, and conservation awareness.
The marathon, one of the most awaited annual events of the club, aims to promote bird conservation and highlight the rich avian diversity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The twelve-hour event (0600 hrs–1800 hrs) began early Sunday morning as birders fanned out across various birding hotspots in South Andaman, including wetlands, mangroves, forest trails, and coastal zones, to identify and record resident and migratory bird species.
Participants, working in teams, recorded a significant number of sightings across habitats, strengthening data for citizen science and long-term monitoring. The day’s highlight was the sighting of Oriental Honey Buzzard, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Pied Pigeon …adding excitement to the marathon and enriching the island’s bird records.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr. A.K. Malle, President of the Andaman Avians Club, remarked:
“The Bird Marathon is not merely a competition but a collective movement towards understanding and conserving the delicate ecosystems of our islands. Each sighting and record contributes to awareness and ongoing conservation efforts.”
The marathon concluded in the evening at Zero Mile, Chidiyatapu, where all participants gathered to share their experiences, discuss their findings, and celebrate the spirit of birding. Certificates of participation and appreciation were distributed to the top-performing teams and individuals for their outstanding efforts throughout the day.
Members and coordinators from Port Blair, South Andaman, and inter-island regions participated with great enthusiasm. The Andaman Avians Club extended heartfelt gratitude to all members and volunteers for making the Bird Marathon 2025 a grand success.
The valuable data collected during the event will be compiled and shared with bird monitoring networks and conservation bodies to support ongoing studies of the unique avifauna of the Andaman Islands.