Sri Vijaya Puram | February 18, 2026
The Andaman & Nicobar Administration successfully concluded the inaugural 1st Island Bird Festival, held from February 14 to 17, marking a significant step towards promoting the Islands’ rich avian biodiversity and sustainable eco-tourism.
The four-day festival brought together birders, researchers and wildlife photographers from across the country. A total of 31 delegates from nine States, along with six local participants from the Islands, were selected for the event. The festival was supported by the Andaman Avians Club.
The event was inaugurated on February 14 at Chidiyatapu by the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, in the presence of Mr. Sanjay Kumar Sinha, PCCF. The inaugural ceremony blended culture with conservation, featuring a traditional Nicobari dance, a bird-themed dance and a conservation skit performed by trainees of the Forest Training Institute highlighting the protection of the Edible-nest Swiftlet.
During the festival, participants explored key birding hotspots including Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Mount Manipur National Park, Stewartgunj wetlands, Kalatang, Chidiyatapu Biological Park, Bada Balu, Ograbraj and Sippighat. Delegates recorded over 130 bird species during field visits, including a remarkable number of endemic species unique to the Islands.
Among the highlights were the Andaman Woodpecker, Andaman Bulbul, Andaman Drongo, Andaman Coucal, Andaman Serpent Eagle, Andaman Crake, Andaman Flowerpecker, Andaman Treepie, Andaman Shama, Andaman Cuckooshrike, Andaman Green Pigeon and the Andaman Teal. Participants also spotted several other species such as the White-bellied Sea Eagle, Black-winged Stilt, Common Snipe, Grey-headed Lapwing, Oriental Skylark, Eyebrowed Thrush and a variety of winter migrants and shorebirds across wetlands and coastal areas.
The festival also featured a series of expert talks and interactive sessions. Dr. Dhananjay Mohan spoke on “Developing Bird-Based Ecotourism: Lessons from Uttarakhand,” highlighting how conservation and tourism can complement each other when managed responsibly. Wildlife filmmaker Dhritiman Mukherjee shared his field experiences in a session titled “My Experience with Birds.”
Dr. Rajah Jayapal delivered a session on “Population Monitoring of Island Birds: Principles & Methods,” while Mr. Shashank Dalvi discussed migratory bird patterns linking the Islands to global flyways. Dr. P. Pramod conducted two sessions—one on the endemic birds of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and another on “Acoustic Communication in Birds,” focusing on the science of bird calls and behaviour.
In addition to terrestrial birding trails, pelagic birding was introduced, offering participants the rare opportunity to observe seabirds and ocean-going species in their natural marine habitat. A stargazing session was also organised, encouraging participants to appreciate the Islands’ ecosystem as a connected landscape of land, sea and sky.
The festival concluded on February 17 with a valedictory function presided over by Dr. Dhananjai Mohan. Participants shared their experiences, and certificates and prizes were distributed to delegates and team leaders.
The first Island Bird Festival successfully combined conservation awareness with community engagement and has set the stage for positioning the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a premier destination for bird-based eco-tourism.
