Waterbird Count 2026 underway in Kaziranga to monitor Assam’s wetland birds

Guwahati: The Waterbird Count 2026 is underway across Kaziranga National Park, a seven-day scientific exercise aimed at documenting waterbird populations at a time when shrinking, drying, and degraded wetlands are emerging as one of the gravest threats to their survival in Assam.

Officials said conducting such counts and conservation measures is important to monitor Assam’s bird populations.

The count began in the South Bank ranges of Bokakhat, Agoratoli, and Kohora, where forest personnel, expert ornithologists, and trained enumerators fanned out across beels and marshes at daybreak.

The exercise moved to the Bagori and Burapahar ranges, followed by surveys along Kaziranga’s North Bank under the Biswanath Wildlife Division, covering some of the park’s wetland habitats.

A senior forest official said, “This count is essential to understand how waterbirds are responding to rapid changes in wetland conditions across Kaziranga.”

Another observer noted, “The distribution patterns we are recording today will help us anticipate future conservation challenges.”

However, experts flagged wetland shrinkage and early drying of beels as a growing concern. Several traditional waterbodies that once retained water well into late winter are now receding much earlier.

“Reduced water spread directly impacts feeding, roosting, and breeding opportunities for waterbirds,” an ornithologist explained.

“When wetlands dry prematurely, birds are forced to crowd into fewer habitats, increasing stress and competition.”

Experts also pointed to siltation, invasive aquatic vegetation, erratic rainfall, and pressure around wetland fringes as factors accelerating habitat degradation.

“Wetlands are living systems, and even small disruptions can have cascading effects on bird populations,” an expert remarked.

Officials said early observations have shown some positive signs despite the challenges. They added that the presence of diverse resident and migratory species underscores the importance of sustained protection.

“Regular monitoring like the Waterbird Count allows us to respond with timely restoration measures,” a range officer stated.

The seven-day exercise will continue across the remaining ranges of Kaziranga, with the final dataset expected to guide future wetland management and conservation strategies.

One conservationist noted, “If wetlands survive, waterbirds will survive. This count is a reminder that time is running out, but action is still possible.”