The Forest department will conduct a Terrestrial Bird Census for 2025-2026 on Saturday and Sunday across several districts in the central region. Bird experts, enthusiasts, volunteers, and college students will participate. The Statewide census is organized by local Forest department officials. Before the event, an orientation was held in Tiruchi and Pudukottai to train participants on bird identification and census methods. In Tiruchi district, the census will happen at 20 sites including M.R. Palayam reserve forest, Semmalai reserve forest, Puthanampatti, and Sengattupatti near Thuraiyur. Around 20 teams will be equipped with binoculars and cameras. They will work from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The census will even include nocturnal terrestrial birds. Meanwhile, Pudukottai district will host the census at 25 locations within five forest ranges, such as Narthamalai reserve forest, Veppangudi, Maniyachi reserve forest, and Mullur reserve forest. A Forest department official said, "The census is to find out the species, their diversity, and habitats to initiate measures to protect such bird species and their habitats." Last year, a similar statewide exercise recorded many migrant and resident terrestrial bird species in the central region. This year’s census aims to build on that data to help conservation efforts.