19th to 20th Dec, 2018
Recently conducted first Waterfowl Census at Kaziranga National Park in Assam has revealed total 80 bird species and count of 10,412 birds in and around the waterbodies.
Kaziranga National Park (26O35’- 26O45’N, 93O05’-93O40’E), a world heritage site since 1985. Kaziranga spread across the floodplain of Brahmaputra River, Nowgaon and Golaghat Districts of Assam with an area of 430 sq km. There are more than 250 temporary water bodies and around 90 permanent water bodies along with rich grassland habitats are home to Tiger, Elephant, Eastern Swamp Deer, world’s largest population of Indian one-horned Rhinoceroses, a world’s largest population of Asiatic Water Buffalos and about 25 globally threatened birds.
For the first time, the noble initiative was taken by the Kaziranga Forest Depoartment to conduct a waterfowl census in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP). Forest department team led by Rabin Sharma, Research Officer KNP and Uttam Saikia, Honorary Wildlife Warden KNP along with the officials of local and National NGO’s. Many organisations of India including Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Aaranyak, Bhumi, The Corbett Foundation, Wildlife Trust of India, WWF was a part of it. However, BNHS took the leading role with forest department to accomplish this census programme as they have engaged in planning, coordinating and analysing the data collected in the field. Initially a meeting was held on 19th December, 2018 in J.D.S.G. College, Bokakhat to determine and understand the methodology of the entire survey by Rabin Sharma, Research Officer KNP and Uttam Saikia, Honorary Wildlife Warden KNP and Dr. Akshaya Mohan Mane, Ornithologist, BNHS. During this meeting the enumerators from different organisations and the volunteers from J.D.S.G. and C.N.B. colleges were chosen for the survey and constructive discussion on importance and protocol was apprehended. The survey had begun on the morning (8:00 hrs onwards) of 20th December, 2018 and was continued for four hours depending on the specific circumstances. Total 30 locations were chosen covering Eastern, Central and Western Range of Kaziranga National Park to conduct the bird counts at wetlands. Teams encountered a big Cat, Rhinos and other animals as well during the count. Apart from field challenges and wild encounters, the team effort of all participants has given the impressive result.
Following Officials along with 25 volunteers and 50 field assistants took part during the field survey.
Rabin Sharrma, Research Officer, Kaziranga National Park, Uttam Saikia, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Kaziranga National Park, Dr. Akshaya Mohan Mane, Ornithologist, BNHS, Himadri Sekhar Mondal, Scientist-A, BNHS, Biswajit Chakdar, Scientist-A, BNHS, Arif Hussain, coordinator, Aaranyak, Dr. Naveen Pandey, Deputy Director, The Corbett Foundation, Aftab Ahmed, Researcher, WTI, Dr. Debabrata Phukana, Forest Veterinary Officer, Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Arun Vignesh, ACF, Kaziranga National Park, Khagesh Pegu, ACF, Kaziranga National Park, Pallab Prakash Saikia, NRSB Kaziranga, Debanga Mahalia, Birdwatcher, Tangla, Papu Choudhury, Birdwatcher, Sivasagar, Anuj Saikia, Birdwatcher, Tezpur, Manish Kumar Thapa, Birdwatcher, Kaziranga, Dr. Saurav Das, Birdwatcher, Jadumoni Goswami, Birdwatcher, Birdwatcher, Kaziranga, Rajeev Basumatary, R. D. College, Dhurbajyoti, Birdwatcher, Tarun Gogoi, Beat Officer, Kaziranga.
Total 10,412 birds were counted covering 80 species from 21 families during the waterfowl census at Kaziranga National Park, 19th-20thDec, 2018. From Family Anatidae, 8,074 birds (Baer’s Pochard, Bar-headed Goose, Chinese Spot-billed Duck, Common Pochard, Common Teal, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Falcated Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Gadwall, Garganey, Greylag Goose, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Lesser whistling Duck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Shel Duck, Tufted Duck) were counted during the census. Rare species like Red-headed Vulture (CR), Baer’s Pochard (CR), Pallas’s Fish Eagle (EN), Greater Adjutant Stork (EN), Greater Spotted Eagle (VU), Common Pochard (VU), Great Hornbill (VU), Lesser Adjutant Stork (VU), Woolly- necked Stork (VU), Swamp Francolin (VU) were sighted at the wetlands.
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