Bhatti Unveils Pocket Guide on Birds of Telangana

Hyderabad: In a significant step for environmental education, Telangana’s Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka released the “Birds of Telangana” pocket guide, created by the Hyderabad Birding Pals (HBP) to raise awareness about the diverse bird species in the state. The launch event, held at Praja Bhavan, showcased the guide as a valuable resource for spreading knowledge on the state’s birdlife to future generations.

The book includes easy-to-navigate sections for various habitats so that users can identify birds based on the location they are visiting, such as lakes, forests or grasslands. There’s also a dedicated page explaining how to identify birds through five basic tips, making it ideal for those new to birdwatching.

HBP president Harikrishna Adepu highlighted the guide’s importance as Telangana’s first comprehensive bird guide since statehood, covering 252 bird species with details on their diet, migration, and conservation status. The pocket guide will be distributed free to students in government schools and colleges, encouraging young people, nature enthusiasts and forest personnel to connect with Telangana’s biodiversity.

Former DGP Tejdeep Kaur Menon, a key advocate for urban lake conservation, praised the HBP’s efforts, including their 490-plus free bird walks, which have raised public awareness and inspired conservation across the state. HBP members thanked the government for its support.

“The primary objective of this book is to introduce bird watching to people who are completely new to bird watching. About 30 photographers contributed their pictures to this initiative. We would like to thank them for their contribution,” said Sriram Reddy, a Hyderabad-based bird watcher and active member of HBP.