Vice-Chancellor Prof Khandaker Mustahidur Rahman of the university inaugurated the "Bird Fair-2007" around 10:00am. The festival was organised by the Department of Zoology of the university in association with Bangladesh Bird Club, Nature Study and Conservation Club, and Wildlife Rescue Centre.

Students of different public and private universities, school-goers, teenagers and their parents were seen observing birds on the campus throughout the day.

Several telescopes and binoculars were set up at different spots on the campus to provide bird lovers the opportunity to identify and know about different species.

Students of 14 educational institutions including JU, Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, participated in the Bird Watching Competition. The idea of the competition was to identify birds by listening to their chirping or having a glimpse of them through binoculars while walking along the lakes.

Several other competitions like quiz, debate concerning birds and a bird-sketching competition for the kids were also held.

Around 31 species of migratory birds including 28 local species usually visit the campus every winter. They join around 100 other species that live in the bushes and lakes of JU, which has proved to be a sanctuary for the birds.

"I have come with my father today [Friday] being the weekend. At first I was scared to see so many birds but then we wandered around the campus watching them," said Anuska, a student of class II.

Awards were given to different stalls of the book fair in front of the JU Auditorium. A projection show comprising photographs of endangered species of birds, journals and stamps was also held there. The organisers also honoured Paul M Thomson for his contribution in raising awareness about bird.

Around 42 percent of birds that live on water are now on the verge of extinction while 62 percent of these endangered birds live in Asia.