Hornbill Festival, Dandeli & Joida

A three-day festival, titled Hornbill Festival is held in February at the Kali Tiger Reserve of the Dandeli forests in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. The objective of the festival is to fuel interest in birdwatching and nature as well as develop a community of birdwatchers. The number of Hornbills in this part of the Western Ghats has improved over the years and is higher than anywhere else in the country. There are four Hornbill species which can be found in this part of the Western Ghats, Indian Grey, Malabar Grey. Indian Pied, and Great Pied. The festival intends to create awareness about the unique and endemic species and to draw attention to the scientific methods of bird conservation. Photography contests, guided nature walks, lectures, cultural programmes, and film screenings are an essential part of the festival. The Hornbill Festival of Karnataka is jointly organized by the Forest and Tourism departments and District administration along with various other organizations