Bihar kicks off 3-day Nagi Bird Festival from today

107763529The Bihar Forest and Environment department is hosting the Nagi Bird Festival in Jamui, Bihar, for three days, starting from today. This initiative follows the success of an international bird workshop conducted by the Bihar Government, whereas the festival’s primary goal is to advance bird conservation while educating the public on migratory birds and their habitats.

Referring to this, Secretary of Forest Department Bandana Preyasi informed that the primary mission of this festival is to raise awareness about migratory birds, highlighting their rarity and their presence in the region for approximately two and a half months. The official added that such an initiative will likely help to transform this region into a robust eco-tourism site.

107382450She adds, “The Nagi Bird Festival not only enlightens people about these migratory birds and their conservation but also serves as a platform to promote tourism, leveraging the rarity of these birds as a unique attraction. Their brief stay of two and a half months turns the region into a strong eco-tourism hub.”

Preyasi further added that the immediate advantage of this kind of an initiative is that it will lead to increased awareness about migratory birds and their conservation efforts among the people here. Additionally, the festival is expected to stimulate eco-tourism, thereby creating employment opportunities for the local population, who could serve as guides for wildlife photographers and tourists.

To heighten awareness about the Nagi Bird Festival, the state department of forest, environment, and climate change earlier launched publicity vans from Aranya Bhawan. These vans travelled from Patna to Jamui, educating people about bird conservation, with a particular focus on migratory species and their habitats. The 2024 Nagi Bird Festival’s mascot, the Picu pochard, was unveiled during this campaign.

Preparations for the festival have been going on in full swing, with a bikers’ rally flagged off on January 28, featuring participants from various states, including Haryana, Bihar, Sikkim, and Delhi. Additionally, a car rally was launched on February 3, commencing from the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in Patna.

107763533These events play a crucial role in creating awareness about the festival and its conservation objectives, turning it into a significant platform for environmental education, eco-tourism promotion, and the generation of local employment opportunities.