GoI-UNDP-GEF SECURE Himalaya Project and Department of Wildlife Protection have been at the forefront of promoting citizen-science based bird surveys in the Changthang region of Ladakh. Continuing from the past experiences, this year, the Project organized the Asian Waterbird Census 2023 between 17th January and 19th January 2023 in collaboration with Ladakh Biodiversity Council in and around two important hot springs of eastern Ladakh, Chumathang and Puga, along with other important birding sites like Tso Kar and along the banks of Indus River in Shey and Phey villages. Representatives from conservation-oriented organizations — GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Nature Conservation Foundation, SAVE Changthang, Snow Leopard Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club Ladakh, and WWF — participated in the three-day long survey along with the organising team from UNDP. The waterbird census was led by Padma Gyalpo, a prolific young birder from Shey.
A total of 52 bird species were observed during the survey (11 species were sighted in Chumathang, 10 in Puga, 21 in Shey, and 10 in Phey along the Indus River). The observations were recorded on the eBird app, which is an online database of bird observations providing scientists, researchers, and amateur naturalists with real-time data about bird distribution and abundance. The total number of species recorded across all the birding sites were 35, out of which 13 species were waterbirds.
The International Waterbird Census is a monitoring programme operating in 143 countries to collect information on the numbers of waterbirds at wetland sites. India is also a part of this monitoring programme under the Asian Water Bird Census, held every year in mid-winter.
