The festival encompasses the 5th waterbird census

Organized by Kaziranga National Park and BNHS

2021-22 census reported 93,491 water birds across 122 species

Commencing in January 2024, the Kaziranga Bird Conservation Festival is scheduled to unfold on January 9-10. The festival encompasses the 5th waterbird census, an initiative of citizen science. Jointly organized by the Kaziranga National Park and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), the festival is dedicated to safeguarding the diverse avian species within the park.

Designed to celebrate and preserve the wealth of birdlife in Kaziranga National Park, the festival extends an invitation to bird enthusiasts, nature lovers, college students, and members of civil society to actively participate. Notable figures, conservationists, and wildlife experts are expected to attend the event, which will include live sessions, webinars, and a photography competition showcasing the abundant birdlife of Kaziranga.

Under the overarching theme of “Conserving Birds using Citizen Science,” the festival strives to engage ordinary citizens in monitoring and safeguarding bird populations. This collaborative approach encourages a collective responsibility for conservation endeavors.

Having conducted four consecutive waterbird surveys from 2018-2019 to 2021-2022, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve documented a substantial gathering of both resident and migratory water birds. The 4th waterbird census in 2021-2022 reported an impressive count of 93,491 water birds across 122 species, spanning 52 wetlands in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. This marks a significant rise from 2020, when the census documented 34,284 birds, and 2018, when the count stood at 10,412.