The Forest Department conducted its first winter bird count across Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai districts. The two-day exercise, involving forest officials, students, ornithologists, and enthusiasts, aimed to assess local and migratory bird species, their habitats, and prey availability. The count, held from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., identified various species including barbets, bulbuls, and flowerpeckers, with owls also spotted in the Vellore division. Data collected will be analyzed to understand bird patterns and ecosystem conditions.