The statewide bird census, which is done every two years, commenced on January 12 and is scheduled to end on January 27. All the birds present in the state, including the migratory and the local species, will be taken into account during the ongoing census.

According to officials, 30 deputy conservators of forest from across the state have been pressed into service along with volunteers from NGOs, nature clubs, environmentalists and wild life lovers.

Junagadh district, which comprises more then 25 water halls and wetlands mainly located in four talukas of Una, Kodinar, Talala and Mendarda, provide the best conditions for spotting birds.

“The bird census is being done with direct approximate count system,” said VG Rana, zoo superintendent of Sakkarbaug zoo in Junagadh, who is also in charge of the exercise in this district.

The environmentalists are pitching for developing the Kodinar wetlands into a bird sanctuary, as thousands of species of birds could be sighted here through out the year. Some locals have also sighted the Siberian crane, a migratory Russian bird, here.