The Annual Dangs Bird Festival in the Dangs district of southern Gujarat brought together 120 participants on March 18–19, 2025, at the Kilad Ecotourism site, Nani Waghai. Ms. Aarti Damor (IFS), ACF-South Dangs, RFO-Vansda National Park Antika Tiwari, Range Forest Officers from the South Dangs division, forest staff, senior birders, local guides, and 55 students and teachers from five schools near Vansda National Park came together to celebrate avian diversity, promote bird conservation, and document local bird species through guided walks, interactive sessions, and expert talks.
Mr. Kaushal Patel, Project Manager of the Forest Owlet Project at WCS-India, spoke about the rare, endangered, and endemic forest owlet, highlighting its ecological significance and presence in the landscape. Mr. Aditya Roy, PhD scholar and Co-founder of Soar Excursions, presented on the vultures of Gujarat, while Mr. Pavan Patel, Naturalist at Soar Excursions, shared insights on the common wildlife of Dangs. Mr. Mukesh Bhatt, Field Research Officer at the Peter Scott Trust, Jamnagar, emphasised the value of bird call recordings in understanding behaviour—rounding off a weekend of shared learning and conservation dialogue.
