Key Facts about Asian Waterbird Census

Asian Waterbird Census Latest News

As per the Asian Waterbird Census-2025, a record number of 39,725 birds belonging to 106 species have been sighted in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining wetlands.

About Asian Waterbird Census

• It is a citizen-science programme that supports the conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide.
• It is conducted annually and is part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC).
• It was initiated in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent and since has grown rapidly to cover major region of Asia, from Afghanistan eastwards to Japan, Southeast Asia and Australasia.
• The census thus covers the entire East Asian – Australasian Flyway and a large part of the Central Asian Flyway.
• In India it is conducted under the aegis of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in early January.

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What is Bombay Natural History Society?

• It is a Non-Governmental Organisation in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research.
• BNHS has been designated as a ‘Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’ by the Department of Science and Technology. BNHS is the partner of Bird Life International in India.

Asian waterbird census FAQs

Q1: Who conducts the Asian waterbird census?

Ans: The AWC is an integral part of the global waterbird monitoring programme, the International Waterbird Census (IWC), coordinated by Wetlands International.

Q2: What is the Wildlife Institute of India?

Ans: It is an autonomous institution established in 1982 under the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Government of India.

Q3: What is the international waterbird census?

Ans: It is a monitoring programme operating in 143 countries to collect information on the numbers of waterbirds at wetland sites.

Source: TH