BCI to launch Bird Count in Bohag Bihu from April 14

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: This Bohag (Rongali) Bihu, make some time for birdwatching too.

A prominent NGO (non government organization), the BCI (Bird Count India) is launching for the first time the 'Bohag Bihu Bird Count' (BBBC) bird-monitoring programme to list and count the wild birds during that particular time of the year in a specified area.

"Rongali Bihu marks the beginning of Assamese New Year and has its own importance of representing the celebration. Moreover, it is the phase when many migratory bird species that had visited Assam as well as the surrounding regions during the winter season start flying back to their homes. It is also the time when we start hearing the call of Indian Cuckoo (Keteki), Asian Koel (Kuli) and observe the presence of many summer visitors," said the BCI in a communiqué. Only two States in India, namely Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have birdwatching events during their festivals — Onam and Pongal respectively.

The 'Assam Bird Monitoring Network' (an informal group) and BCI were instrumental in hosting a bird documentation process in Assam during the Magh Bihu in 2020. However, this year onwards the initiative will be scaled up to all the three Bihus (Magh, Bohag and Kati) to document the avian diversity across three seasons. The programme which was launched to promote the association of the festival with nature also aims to spread knowledge and awareness on the importance of birds around us.

The 'Bohag Bihu Bird Count' process will be held from April 14 to 17, 2021 across all the districts of Assam.

The initiative emphasizes on the use of eBird.org, a citizen science platform for the birders to register their observations in systematic manner.

As per rules, Bihu Bird Count will follow some simple steps of documentation. Anyone who is within Assam during the event days is eligible to be a participant. First, the participants will select the area in which they are interested to pursue bird watching. Once the area or location is decided by the participants, they will have to watch birds for at least 15 minutes in and around the selected area at any time of the day. One can go birding as many a times they want within these four days (April 14 to 17).

Secondly, the bird species identified during the event has to be uploaded in eBird.org by April 22, 2021. For people residing outside Assam and is willing to participate in the event, there is an option of sharing their respective checklist with the account named 'bihubird' in eBird. This is the first time we will have a Bohag Bihu Bird Count and the organizers are looking forward for the participation from all the districts of the State. For any queries the organizers can be reached at bihubirdcount@gmail.com or our Facebook page 'Bihu Bird Count'.

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