Port Blair, Sept. 4: The Andaman Avians Club celebrated its 7th Foundation Day on September 3, 2023 in Port Blair. The club conducted a valedictory function yesterday to mark this milestone. Established in 2017, the club has been dedicated to avifauna conservation, guided by their motto: 'Observe, Preserve, and Educate.' Shri. Govind Bihari Mathur, known as the 'Birdman of Islands', graced the event as the chief guest. He was recently honored with the Lt. Governor Commendation Certificate and shared his journey with club members and invitees.
To commemorate the 7th Foundation Day, the club organized 'Avian Art 2023,' a painting competition for school students. A total of 167 participants from two categories, junior and senior, showcased their artistic talents in the competition, held at MGIS School. The event recognised the top twelve paintings in each junior and senior age category including consolation prize winners.
In addition, the club hosted the 'Andaman Nicobar Island Birding Marathon (ANIBM)' exclusively for its members. This birding marathon introduced a new concept to the islands, requiring participants to observe birds from 6 am to 6 pm. It marked the 3rd birding marathon, with participants recording a total of 14.03 hours of birding and uploading 113 checklists. Throughout the day, 86 species and 11 Additional Taxa were identified from a total of 5224 birds and 166 Additional Taxa (species). All participants who completed the marathon received finisher medals.
The Foundation Day celebrations continued with the Annual General Meeting, during which the club members were updated on various achievements. Additionally, a new managing committee was formed to lead the club for the next two years.