Assam: Annual waterbird census conducted at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

GUWAHATI:

The Assam Forest Department, in collaboration with Aaranyak, a frontline biodiversity conservation organisation of the Northeast, conducted the second “Annual Waterbird Census 2021” at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday.

The primary aim of the census was to count the waterbird species, to generate data on the birds, and to monitor the species for long-term conservation.

Last year, 64 waterbird species with over 15,000 individuals were recorded. This year, 58 waterbird species with over 24,000 individuals were recorded.

The census was conducted with the help of 30 participants comprising staff from the state forest department, members and staff of Aaranyak, students and faculty members of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati, representatives from other conservation organisations, local volunteers and birders.

Udayan Borthakur, a senior scientist with Aaranyak, coordinated the census and briefed the participants about the field procedures.

Mukul Tamuli, range officer, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary coordinated various aspects of the census procedure.

Besides Borthakur, Bibhuti P Lahkar, senior scientist of Aaranyak; Namita Brahma, faculty, TISS; Naba Choudhury of Bonoriya, an NGO; Binod Deka and Nripen Nath of Maibong Eco Resort led six different teams that conducted the census.

Zizina Resorts and Pobitora Gypsy Safari Association offered help in various aspects of organising the census, an official statement informed on Monday.

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