Avian Delight:: The Great Himalayan Bird Count begins on October 27

P.S. Chauhan

The third great Himalayan Bird Count in Uttarakhand starts from Oct. 27. The Action and Research for Conservation in the Himalayas (ARCH) will conduct the count, in collaboration with the forest department of the state, on 36 most popular trekking trails at Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Bhilangana, Ganga, Mandakini and Alaknanda in the Garhwal Himalayas, including the Asan and Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserves in Dehradun and Haridwar districts respectively. Prateek Panwar, the founder trustee of the ARCH said that a total of 120 birders are expected to participate in the massive exercise. "Some count groups will also be accompanied by a few local youths from the count area who will act as local birding guides," said Panwar.

According to Dr. Dinesh Bhatt, an ornithologist and professor in the department of environmental sciences in the Gurukul Kangri University, “State is home to nearly half the bird species diversity of India. About 623 species of birds have been reported from the state. This high diversity can be attributed to the habitat diversity that exists in the state.

" Although bird counts, such as the Salim Ali bird count and the Asian Mid winter waterfowl census, are being under-taken in certain parts of the country, the Himalayan region has been largely overlooked in the past. In 2008 during Great Himalayan Bird Count population of birds like monal, scarlet finch, spot wing, grosbeak, white-browed fulbetta and other water birds showed a commendable increase from past. The count this time could result in spotting of some lessor known bird species of the Garhwal Himalayas. Prateek Panwar, the guiding spirit behind the biennial bird count, says that it is Citizens Science Project with five mandates. First, it will serve as an avian population dynamics indicator. But people must realize that it is not a census. Secondly, it is a checklist generation activity. Thirdly, it is an attempt to sensitize urban youth and create future dedicated experts and ambassadors of conservation. Fourth, it will help the forest line staff to be more involved with their forests. Last, but not the least, it is an important environmental awareness activity involving the rural youth of the state.