Bird Census in Kaziranga: Ornithologists hopeful of discovering new, rare species

Bird Census in Kaziranga: Ornithologists hopeful of discovering new, rare species

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The census for birds in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has begun with a mission to discover new and rare species.

The census will consider the aquatic fauna, basically birds, in Kaziranga. Several ornithologists and volunteers are taking part in the census being carried out in all the five ranges of the park.

An ornithologist associated with the census exercise said the number of aquatic birds is expected to be 12,000. The five ranges of Kaziranga have recorded around 21 water bodies. The last year’s census found 11,500 birds. The ongoing census is expected to be completed by Monday. “We are very hopeful to see new and rare species of birds during the census,” he said.

Kaziranga National Park has around 478 species of birds, both migratory and resident birds. It has 25 globally threatened and 21 near-threatened species of birds.

On other hand, the ‘Bird Count India’, an NGO, has launched for the first time Bihu Bird Count (BBC) programme to list and count the wild birds during this particular time of the year in a specified area.

“Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu has its own way of celebrating the harvest season. It is that time of the year when you are surrounded by fog, cold night and migrating birds. Thus, BBC aims to document the diversity of bird species and their number in this time of the year,” the NGO says.

Only two States — Kerala and Tamil Nadu — have bird watching events during their festivals Onam and Pongal.

“The BBC initiative will be able to spread knowledge and awareness about birds and connect the society to nature. We can document birds wherever we are during Bihu — in the field, at our backyards. This is a good time for the migratory birds,” a local organizer said.

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