Birding Clubs in Arunachal Celebrate Himalayan Bird Count 2024

It encourages birdwatchers to document species and upload their observations to eBird, supporting global conservation efforts.

The Arunachal Pradesh Birding Club (APBC) celebrated the Himalayan Bird Count 2024 on Saturday at three prominent locations in the state, highlighting the region’s rich bird diversity and raising awareness about its fragile habitats.

This annual event, organised by Bird Count India in collaboration with Bird Conservation Nepal and the Royal Society for Protection of Nature, Bhutan, takes place every second Saturday of May. It encourages birdwatchers to document species and upload their observations to eBird, supporting global conservation efforts.

At Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in West Kameng district, a bird walk was led by RFO Yachang Kani, researcher Ahmed Omar, and guide Bhukey Rai. The team recorded 49 bird species, including notable sightings like the Himalayan Cutia and the rare Bugun Liocichla, a species found only in this region.

In Lower Subansiri district, the APBC and the Ziro Birding Club, in association with the Hari Youth Organisation (HYO), organised a bird walk from 7 to 11 AM at the Yachi-Yatt river confluence forest area. This walk, led by bird enthusiast Millo Tako, documented 35 different species, including remarkable finds like the Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, and the Ferruginous Flycatcher.

Meanwhile, in the Mishmi Hills of Lower Dibang Valley district, a team of birders led by Ravi Mekola documented various species, adding to the day’s count. Additionally, at Gobuk Village in Upper Siang district, the Epum Sirum Welfare Society and the Arunachal Wildlife Exploratory Team, led by Okit Sitek and Gagam Jamoh, recorded 18 bird species.

A Himalayan Bird ID webinar was also organised to complement the field efforts, enhancing participants’ bird identification skills and reinforcing the role of citizen science in biodiversity conservation.

Koj Mama, State Coordinator of the Himalayan Bird Count, emphasised the importance of these collaborative efforts in promoting conservation awareness and supporting local communities in protecting the unique ecosystems of Arunachal Pradesh.

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