Source: IE
Context: Prime Minister of India highlighted the first-ever Grassland Bird Census in Kaziranga National Park during his Mann ki Baat, praising its innovative use of acoustic technology and its role in biodiversity conservation.
About First-ever Grassland Bird Census in Kaziranga National Park:
- What is it?
- A landmark bird population survey aimed specifically at grassland-dwelling birds in Kaziranga National Park (Assam), covering the period from March 18 to May 25, 2025.
- Who conducted it?
- Jointly undertaken by:
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- Forest department officials
- Researchers including INSPIRE fellow Chiranjib Bora
- Conservationists and Kaziranga park authorities
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- Objectives of the Census:
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- Monitor population of grassland bird species
- Identify rare, endemic, and globally threatened species
- Map breeding patterns and ecological health of the habitat
- Methodology and Innovation:
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- Passive Acoustic Monitoring: Recorders placed on tall trees captured birdcalls during the breeding season (March–May).
- Audio Identification Tools:
- Spectrogram analysis for visualizing sound frequencies
- AI-based BirdNET software to identify bird species by song
- Coverage: Surveyed 29 locations using six recorders over three-day cycles
- Key Features of the Census:
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- First of its kind in India: Focused exclusively on grassland bird species, often underrepresented in conventional bird surveys.
- Data-Driven Approach: Documented 43 species, including 1 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, and 6 Vulnerable birds as per the IUCN Red List.
- Conservation Breakthrough: Discovery of over 85 nests of the endangered Finn’s Weaver, endemic to the Brahmaputra floodplains.
- Ecological Indicator Role: Presence of grassland birds indicates healthy habitat quality, similar to BMI as a health marker.
- Highlight on Threats: Census underlined habitat loss due to ecological succession, overgrazing, cultivation, and climate change impacts.
