Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve turned into a haven for birdwatchers on October 18 as the Kati Bihu Bird Count 2025 brought together experts, students, and local communities for an extensive census of avian life in Assam’s most celebrated wilderness. Organised by the Assam Bird Monitoring Network (ABMN) in collaboration with the Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve Authority, the event sought to deepen citizen participation in conservation, with a special focus on involving women forest staff and young naturalists.
According to Field Director Dr Sonali Ghosh, a total of 63 participants, including bird enthusiasts, students, researchers, and forest officials, took part in the day-long survey conducted across five major locations, Panbari Range (coordinated by Rofikul Islam), Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (Samarjit Ojah and Neeraj Borah), Panpur under Biswanath Wildlife Division (Dr Ranjit Kakati), Gamiri Range (Rahul Sarmah), and Agoratoli Range (Dadul Gogoi).
Dr Ghosh highlighted that this year’s event marked a milestone in inclusive conservation efforts. “A notable feature of this year's event was the active participation of female forest staff in Laokhowa and Panbari, marking the first joint initiative by ABMN and Kaziranga to promote women's involvement in wildlife conservation,” she said.
The collective effort recorded 146 bird species and 1,919 individual birds, with Agoratoli registering the richest diversity at 89 species, followed by Gamiri and Panbari (59 each), Panpur (55), and Laokhowa (37). Among these, two species, Swamp Grass Babbler and Pallas’s Fish Eagle, were classified as endangered, while six others, including the River Tern, Great Hornbill, and Swamp Francolin, were listed as vulnerable. Another six, such as the Spot-billed Pelican and Woolly-necked Stork, were categorised as near-threatened.
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Dr Ghosh noted, “The presence of species such as the Swamp Grass Babbler, an endangered and habitat-specific bird, along with raptors like Pallas's Fish Eagle and Greater Spotted Eagle, highlights Kaziranga's ecological importance for both resident and migratory species.”
The count also documented a variety of resident and migratory birds, including the blue-eared barbet, bluethroat, grey-headed woodpecker, lesser adjutant, taiga flycatcher, chestnut-capped babbler, and blue-naped pitta, reflecting the park’s rich biodiversity and thriving wetland ecosystem.
Dr Ghosh said the initiative served as “a significant citizen science project, promoting inclusive, community-based conservation.” She added, “The active participation of students, youth, birders, and especially women forest staff demonstrates a growing commitment to wildlife conservation in Assam. The findings will contribute to long-term monitoring of bird populations and enhance understanding of habitat health in the Kaziranga landscape.”
The Assam Bird Monitoring Network extended its gratitude to all participants and coordinators, while lauding Dr Sonali Ghosh for her leadership in promoting scientific bird monitoring and public engagement in conservation.
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