Mysuru: The Haliyal division of the forest dept, in association with Kali Tiger Reserve, will host Hornbill Festival-2026 at Dandeli in Uttara Kannada district on Jan 16 and 17 to promote hornbill conservation.Guided birdwatching trails with early-morning walks, expert talks and panel discussions by ornithologists, conservationists and researchers on hornbill ecology and habitat conservation, exhibitions and outreach, including bird art and photography exhibitions, conservation stalls and interactive educational displays, and cultural programmes highlighting the relationship between local communities and forests, are planned as part of the festival.DCF (Haliyal) KC Prashanth Kumar said India is home to nine species of hornbills, of which four are found in Karnataka — Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris), Malabar grey hornbill (Ocyceros griseus), malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus), and great hornbill (Buceros bicornis).Hornbills play a crucial ecological role through seed dispersal and forest regeneration.Uttara Kannada, with more than 300 recorded bird species, is among the richest avian landscapes in the country.
