INVITE: The 5th Great Himalayan Bird Count, Winter of 2012 in Garhwal Himalayas, India
Dear Birdwatchers & Nature Enthusiasts
Greetings from the Land of Gods once again !
Once again bringing you the good news of our avian conservation initiative now in its fifth year, creating yet another wonderful opportunity for you all to contribute by your participation in this, a truly international bird conservation activity in Uttarakhand Himalayas. Please go through the details and respond ASAP. The Participation is purely on first come first serve basis, so please hurry to avoid disappointment later.
Friends, after the great grand success of our previous "GREAT HIMALAYAN BIRD COUNTS - from 2008 to 2011" where till date more than 1400 birdwatchers, rural students & conservationists participated from across the country including overseas, we now gladly announce the dates for our 5th truly international conservation initiative focusing our feathered friends and a dedicated program with socio-economic as well as environmental objectives!
"The 5th Great Himalayan Bird Count, Winter of 2012" which is planned on 57 most popular trekking trails situated in the river-valleys of Tons; Yamuna; Pabbar; Kamal Nadi; Aglar; Bhagirithi; Bhilingna; Ganga; Mandakini and Alaknanda in Garhwal Himalayas including Asan & Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserves in Dehradun & Haridwar districts respectively. Landscape covers diverse bird-habitats from wetlands to alpine meadows in Uttarakhand Himalayas.
The proposed dates for the Bird Count are: 27th to 30th of October, 2012
The bird count will start and finish at Dehradun
We propose 21 Groups undertaking 57 different treks of +/- 10 kms each between 27th and 30th October 2012 (Each Group size will be a maximum of 5/7 birders plus 2/3 urban school/college students) plus local village youths, forest-line staff and govt. school students from nearby villages might also join the trails at the respective count destination itself.
We are involving & encouraging students' participation; because we at ARCH strongly feel that young minds should start thinking of Conservation involvement as an academic and career pursuit instead of just another creative past-time.
This event will be organized with the support of Forest Department, Govt. of Uttarakhand.
There will be an Orientation and Debriefing Workshop at Dehradun on the 27th and 30th of October 2012 respectively.
The 27th and 30th are also the dates for to-&-fro journey to/from the respective count destinations.
Most of the groups will be undertaking minimum two trails during the Count but one or two groups will be undertaking 3-4 trails in the Count.
It's a baseline data generation & conservation awareness activity involving young minds.
Participants will also enjoy an amazing Bird Photo and Bird Books Exhibition on the 27th October at the Orientation Workshop Venue at Dehradun.
Some count groups will accommodate local youths from the count area and will provide required orientation & motivation to take-up bird watching as a revenue generation skill by becoming future birding guides in their local area.
Some groups are also encouraged to conduct small workshop type interactions with the local village elders to generate a list of vernacular names of the bird species found in different river valleys. They are also expected to document any references occurring in oral folk.
This is a purely non-commercial activity, so we expect the participants to share the cost of lodging, boarding & travel expenses during the count. The participation contribution for four days of dedicated jeep travel, boarding and lodging would now come to Rs 4,500/- only.
Each participant will get a complimentary participation kit consisting of an event embossed all weather Knap-Sack, T-Shirt, Cap, Car/Bike Stickers, String Pen, Participation Certificate, collectors bird merchandize and a Table Momento plus a hard copy of the published report of our 3rd & 4th Great Himalayan Bird Count 2010-11.
Your participation will also ensure that your name will also appear in our hard copy published report of 5th Great Himalayan Bird Count – 2012.
During the count modest but comfortable lodging & boarding on sharing basis will be arranged at the FRH, PWD Inspection Bungalows, Tents and even village accommodation at some of the trails during the count.
Friends, as most of the trails require some endurance and trekking skills but we also have some very comfortable bird count transacts for our elderly birdwatchers.
Friends now you know the dates, so plan your schedules accordingly and kindly let us know of your intention (with your trekking & birding experience of Himalayan bird species) to participate in this wonderful Himalayan birding and trekking opportunity at the earliest.
Kindly Note: Participants who fail to register before the 10th of May 2011 will have to pay an additional Late Fee of Rs 1,000/- for ensuring their participation in the bird count and 20 + 10 seats are reserved for Sponsored category and overseas participants respectively.
Friends the participation is strictly on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS and we can only accommodate maximum of 170 birders/participants only, so you'll have to hurry.
Kindly take an early booking initiative to avoid any disappointments later by sending in your Registration Application along with a Demand Draft for Rs 4,500/- per person now or
Participation Seats Details:
Total Seats: 170 Numbers
For Indian Nationals: 140 Numbers
For Overseas Participants: 10 Numbers
Sponsored Participation Quota: 20 Numbers
Pl. Note: Sponsored Quota is applicable to the last remaining 20 seats and from this, along with your participation, we'll sponsor participation of 20 bright rural students from Garhwal, so that they can be motivated & sensitized to become future local area birding guides of their village area.
Participation Fee Details:
For Indian Nationals: (Now) Rs 4,500.00
For Overseas Participants: US$ 250.00 (Payable in Indian Rupees)
Late Fee: Rs 1,000.00 Extra
Sponsored Participation Quota: Rs 7,500.00 (for last 20 participation berths)
Advance Booking for 6th GHBC 2013: Rs 1,500.00 or US$ 50.00 as Donation to ARCH
Advance Booking for 7th GHBC 2014: Rs 1,500.00 or US$ 50.00 as Donation to ARCH
Kindly take an early booking initiative to avoid any disappointments later by sending in your Participation Form duly filled along with a Demand Draft for Rs 4,500/- (Overseas Participants: US$ 250.00 Equivalent payable in Indian Rupees) now, at the address mentioned below or you can also make an electronic money transfer directly by depositing Rs 4,500/- on any branch of Indian Bank in your town/city favoring "ACTION & RESEARCH FOR CONSERVATION IN HIMALAYAS, DEHRADUN" in our bank account. Here are the Bank`s details if you wish to submit your participation fee through net-banking.
Bank: Indian Bank, Branch: Astley Hall, Dehradun
Account Holder: ACTION & RESEARCH FOR CONSERVATION IN HIMALAYAS
Current A/c No. 794568161
IFSC Code: IDIB000D024
MICR Code: 248019002
Address for Courier: Prateek Panwar (Founder Trustee ARCH)
Villa # 36, Rajpur Road Enclave, Dhoran Khas (Near IT Park),
Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 INDIA
Tel No: +91-9412054216
Pl. Note: As an equal opportunity policy at ARCH we adhere to FIRST COME FIRST SERVE principle.
So kindly send in your participation form/Advance booking a.s.a.p. to avoid disappointment later.
Each Group size is restricted to 7-9 birders only, so please hurry... and call us at +91-9412054216
On hearing from you we'll furnish you the Count Trails and Registration Details at the outset.
Garhwal is a divine place to visit for a truly amazing himalayan birding (it would be mostly Lifers for many of you) & a memorable Himalayan outdoors roughing-it-out experience.
I also request you to kindly forward it to all your birding friends with your strong words of recommendation for this Himalayan outdoors experience.
"Happy Birding and May you have many rare sightings and new records"
Thanking you
Yours in Bird Conservation always,
Prateek Panwar
Founder Trustee
Prateek Panwar (Founder Trustee ARCH)
Hon State Coordinator, IBCN/BNHS, Uttarakhand
Villa # 36, Rajpur Road Enclave, Dhoran Khas (Near IT Park),
Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 INDIA
Tel# 9412054216
Email:
arch.birdcount@gmail.com