Asian Waterbird Census in Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department’s Rajamahendravaram Wildlife Management Division will be conducting waterbird census in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas in the Godavari estuary, Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary in Krishna estuary and Kolleru Lake including Atapaka Bird Sanctuary in the State. This census will be of two days- January 5 and 6.

Key Points

• This annual waterbird census will be done by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department along with technical support from the Wetland International and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
• The census is being conducted as part of the Asian Waterbird Census-2021.
• The aim of the census is to monitor the waterbirds and the wetlands.
• The census will also cover Important Bird Areas (IBA) in the three sanctuaries of the State.
• Bombay Natural History Society’s P. Sathiyaselvam is the leading expert of the census while Kakinada-based ornithologist K. Mrutyunjaya Rao will lead a team of birdwatchers during the exercise.
• The main aim of the waterbird census is to assess the status of the water birds and wetlands and documenting the migratory birds and their habitats.
• This documentation of the water birds will help in designing the conservation plans.

Asian Waterbird Census-2021

Asian Waterbird Census is conducted every year in January. The dates of the 2021 census are January 2 to 18.

Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

It is a non-governmental organization that is involved in conservation and biodiversity research. It was formed in the year 1883.