Sri Vijaya Puram | February 2, 2026
The Department of Environment and Forests will organise the first-ever ‘Island Bird Festival’ from February 14 to 17, 2026, aimed at promoting awareness and conservation of the rich avifaunal diversity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In the run-up to the festival, a series of pre-festival events was organised on Monday across the islands. The activities were conducted by the Department of Environment and Forests in coordination with the Andaman Avian Club and were held simultaneously in all Forest Divisions, from Nicobar to Diglipur.
The events witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, teachers, members of the general public, Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) representatives, researchers, birdwatchers, as well as officers and staff of the Department of Environment and Forests.
The pre-festival programmes were aimed at creating awareness about birds and the need for their conservation. Key activities included guided ecological walks focusing on local ecosystems and intertidal zones, Feed the Birds Station, Build-a-Nest Challenge, Sketch-a-Bird sessions, and a quiz on birds. These initiatives were designed to spark interest in ornithology and instil a sense of responsibility towards biodiversity conservation among participants.
The events received an encouraging response from people of all age groups and successfully highlighted the unique and diverse birdlife of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. More such awareness programmes are scheduled to be organised on February 7, 2026, as part of the pre-festival outreach.
The upcoming Island Bird Festival is expected to be a landmark event, bringing together conservationists, researchers, bird enthusiasts and the general public to celebrate and promote the conservation of the islands’ unique bird species.
Further details regarding the festival, including the programme schedule and registration, are available on the official website of the Department of Environment and Forests.
