Gujarat: Statewide count this Dec-Jan to assess population of waterbirds, identify wetlands

The exercise has been divided into two phases. In the first phase, bird count will be coducted on December 16-17, 23-24 and 30-31. In the second phase, a second count will be conducted at wetlands where more than 2,000 birds were found in the first count or the wetlands spread over more than 20 hectare.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Srivastava said, “Gujarat attracts lots of international migratory birds during winter. While the forest department does conduct bird censuses at four Ramsar sites of the state regularly, to get a wholistic idea of the population abundance of winter migratory birds, we need to conduct bird censuses in other wetlands also.”

The exercise will cover man-made as well as natural wetlands, including coastal wetlands. Gujarat has the highest number of wetlands in the country.

He added that the objective is also to identify important wetlands other than the four major ones — Nal Sarovar Birds Sanctuary, Thol Wildlife Sanctuary, Khijadia Bird Sanctuary and Wadhwana lake – which have already been listed by Ramsar Convention as wetlands of international importance.

“Gujarat has rich diversity and abundance of wetlands and we want to conserve them. Similarly, under the Amrit Dharohar initiative, the Union government is also encouraging conservation of wetlands. Therefore, we feel that there can certainly be more than four Ramsar sites in Gujarat and the statewide bird count will help identify them,” said Srivastava.

He added the exercise will make people interested in bird-watching and lead them to becoming stakeholders in conservation of birds and wetlands.

Srivastava further said that for covering the maximum number of wetlands, the department will invite participation from non-governmental organisations, including Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat (BCSG), as well as university students and individuals.

This will be third statewide exercise in Gujarat. The department had conducted statewide bird counts in 2003-04 and 2016-17. In 2003-04, the exercise had covered 1,025 wetlands. “We are treating the 2023-24 count as a continuation and such exercises will continue,” Srivastava said.

When contacted, BCSG honorary secretary Uday Vora said, “This year, there will be a first count and second count. This will generate more precise data. The two-phase count will also help us understand which wetland is supporting which type of species during winter.”

Vora, a Gujarat cadre Indian forest service officer, had retired as chief conservator of forests. He added that birdwatchers participating in the exercise will enter data of bird count on eBird platform.

The biennial bird count at the four Ramsar sites and Chhari Dhand Conservation Reserve in Kutch is scheduled on January 27 and 28, next year, Srivastava said.