Asian Waterbird Census
According to the recent Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2023, there has been a decline in the population of some migratory waterbirds, especially duck species that visit the Alappuzha region of Kerala.
Major extinct species:
- Duck species such as the northern shoveler, common teal and Eurasian pigeon seen in previous surveys were completely missing this time.
- Climate change has affected the number of birds that visit the region. However, more detailed studies are needed in terms of the exact impact of climate change on bird migration.
Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC):
- It is a citizen-science program that supports the conservation and management of wetlands and waterfowl around the world.
- AWC is an integral part of the global project ‘The International Water Bird Census Programme’.
- It operates in parallel with other regional programs of the International Waterfowl Census in Africa, Europe, West Asia, the Neotropics and the Caribbean.
Asian Waterfowl Census in India
- The Asian Waterbirds Census is organized annually in January by volunteers from Asia and Australia to count waterbirds in their country’s wetlands.
- Globally, it is administered by Wetlands International, while in India it is organized by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in association with Wetlands International.
- It started in the year 1987. Its purpose is to monitor waterfowl and wetlands.
- The global waterbird monitoring program is conducted as an integral part of The International Waterbird Census (IWC).
- It also helps implement the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD).
Source – The Hindu
