Over 15 students from the Department of Zoology have volunteered to keep

a vigil across the city on these days to rescue injured birds.

“We have a number of students in the department, who are active in various activities in association with the Forest Department,” said Devkar Ranjitsinh, a lecturer at the Department of Zoology.

This time, Ranjitsinh said, they will coordinate with the forest officials and NGOs in rescuing the injured birds.

Last year, over 150 birds, including Schedule I and II birds, owls, kites and vultures, were injured in Vadodara.

The Forest Department is taking extra measures to have rapid emergency services across the city during these days.

With kite flying activity remaining vigorous even during the evening hours, the incidents of the birds getting injured are on a rise.

“We are appealing to the people not to fly kites between 5 and 8 in the morning and after 5.30 in the evening,” said S K Nanda, Gujarat Forest and Environment Secretary.

“We are more concerned about vultures. Last year, two vultures died and 22 were injured during Uttarayan festival,” said Nanda.

The forest officials in Vadodara, however, feel such appeals will prove futile.

“With the rise in the use of Chinese threads, the birds are getting deep wounds. It is impractical to put restrictions on the use of Chinese threads or persuading people to stop using these threads,” said a forest official.

The official added: “Instead, we will focus more on strengthening the rescue operations.”

While students will move in different areas to keep track of the injured birds, NGOs’ teams will provide the needed medication.

“While local threads are visible, the Chinese thread is very thin and difficult to trace. Hence, the birds get entangled in these threads and get injured,” said Snehal Bhavsar, a member of the city-based NGO, Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA).

Areas like Manjalpur and Makarpura report the highest number of bird injuries each year.