News Excerpt:

There have been over 1000+ submissions to the global citizen science initiative on documenting the birds' diversity, ranking second in the world.

More About News: Total 1036 species of birds are documented from the entire nation for the Global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2024. 

Why it's unique this year: 

• The latest Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) saw participation from birders across all states and Union territories for the first time. 
• Kerala led with the highest number of checklists (14,023), followed by Tamil Nadu (13,661) and Maharashtra (5,725). West Bengal reported the most species observed (538), followed by Uttarakhand (426) and Assam (420).
• India is the second-highest number submitter on the number of checklists and the third-highest species among all participating countries. 
• Over the four days, Indian birdwatchers contributed over 61,000 checklists and documented 1,036 bird species on an online platform eBird(a collaborative project managed by Bird Count India). 

Key Sightings: 

• Indian birdwatchers also sighted several restricted-range species this year, including the Andaman Serpent-Eagle, Andaman Woodpecker, Nilgiri Laughingthrush, White-headed Starling, Nilgiri Sholakili, White-bellied Blue Flycatcher, Andaman Treepie, Forest Owlet, Bugun Liocichla, and White-bellied Sholakili.

About GBBC: 

• The Global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a collaborative citizen science initiative organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. It was launched in 1998, and was the first online participatory-science project (also referred to as community science or citizen science) to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real time. 
• It typically takes place over four days in February (This year, it took place from February 16-19, 2024) each year, inviting birdwatchers of all skill levels from around the world to count birds in their local environments.
• Participants are asked to spend at least 15 minutes observing birds and recording their sightings, including the number of individuals of each species seen. These observations are then submitted through the GBBC website or mobile app, where they are compiled into a massive database of bird sightings.
• The GBBC helps scientists and conservationists monitor bird populations, track changes in bird distribution, and identify trends in bird behavior. By engaging people of all ages and backgrounds in birdwatching, the GBBC also raises awareness about the importance of birds and their conservation.
• In addition to providing valuable scientific data, the GBBC fosters a sense of community among bird enthusiasts worldwide, who share their experiences, photos, and stories through social media and online platforms during the event.

Similar and associated Events: 

• National Birds Day: The USA declared January 5th as the National Birds Day. It was founded to celebrate the significance of wild birds. Also, to bring issues to light that endanger the existence of birds and ways in which people can help save them.
• State of India’s Birds (SoIB): SoIB is a collaborative effort involving 13 leading institutions in India, including six government institutions and seven conservation NGOs, along with contributions from independent professionals. This report provides a comprehensive overview of bird species in India, utilizing citizen science as a driving force. 

Key Findings of SoIB 2023:

• 217 species stable or increasing in the last eight years
• 204 species declining in the past three decades

• 178 species classified as High Conservation Priority

• 942 Indian birds assessed for conservation priority
• Recommendation for IUCN Red List reassessment for 14 species, including the Indian Roller
• Increase in Asian Koel population over the past three decades
• Continual thriving of the Indian Peafowl
• Declines observed in birds inhabiting key habitats such as open ecosystems, rivers, and coasts
• Pronounced declines in raptors, migratory shorebirds, and ducks