The winter survey started on February 3 and concluded on Sunday
Hyderabad: The rock pigeon was the most spotted bird species during the winter survey, the first season of the Hyderabad Birding Atlas, a large-scale citizen science project to study and track bird populations in Hyderabad over the next three years.
Birders counted 7,634 rock pigeons. The eastern cattle egret came next, at 3,576, and the 2,986 red-vented bulbul were spotted.
The most widespread species recorded were the purple sunbird, sighted in 544 locations, and the red-vented bulbul, in 540 locations.
The winter survey started on February 3 and concluded on Sunday. Organised by WWF-India, Hyderabad Birding Pals, and Deccan Birders, the project focuses on the Hyderabad Birding Atlas will be held twice a year to document bird activity in both winter and summer.
In the winter survey, volunteers recorded 195 bird species, including 53 migratory species, with a total of over 67,000 birds counted. The survey covered 180 grid locations across Hyderabad, including parks, wetlands, scrublands, and wooded areas.
Among the significant findings, the Indian roller, Telangana’s state bird, was sighted 26 times at 22 locations, mostly within the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Rare sightings included those of the common grasshopper warbler, common chiffchaff, eastern orphean warbler, Baillon’s crake, common cuckoo, osprey, and peregrine falcon.
Over 700 volunteers registered for the Hyderabad Birding Atlas, and were trained in bird identification, survey methods, and data collection. Of these, 209 volunteers participated in the field study.
The long-term project is expected to help understand changes in bird populations, migration patterns, and habitat conditions in Hyderabad. The next phase is scheduled for July.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Farida Tampal, state director of WWF-India, Hyderabad, expressed satisfaction with the survey’s execution. “We didn’t know if we could complete all 180 cells, but we did it. Though we had nearly 700 registrations, around 200 actively participated. We hope to engage more people in the next survey starting in July,” she said.
The survey, which aims to map bird populations and habitats, will continue for the next three years. “We are building a baseline. Until now, there was no city-wide bird atlas. This will help us understand habitat trends and species distribution,” she added.
The survey involved large-scale monitoring, team coordination, and training new participants. "It was a challenge but also rewarding," Sri Ram Reddy, core member of HBP, told Deccan Chronicle.
