Asian Waterbird Census

The dates for the 2025 Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) are 1 Dec 2024 to 28 Feb 2025 

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) takes place every year. This citizen science event is a part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC) that supports the conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide.

By using eBird and filling out an additional site form, one can participate in this multi-country effort to document the state of our wetlands and waterbirds. To take part, you simply visit a wetland and count the birds you see there. We welcome counts from any dates in December 2024, January, and February 2025, even though the recommended dates for the AWC are 4–19 January 2025.

WHEN

1 Dec 2024 to 28 Feb 2025

WHERE

Anywhere in the country

HOW

There are three different ways to submit your counts. You can see details of all of them in the announcement for the 2025 census (scroll down to where it says “Counting in India”).

Here we discuss only one of these three options: the eBird plus Wetland Assessment Form. The main points are given below:

1. Choose a wetland and survey it, listing and counting all species you see. If you have participated in a previous count for a particular site, kindly cover the same site this year and report on it using the latest count and wetland assessment submission forms.
2. Available site boundaries of sites counted before are available here and can guide your counts.
3. We ask you to survey each site as thoroughly as possible, tracking the total counts of species to prevent potential double-counting.
4. Upload your checklist with counts from the wetland to eBird in the normal way.
5. Once your count from the site has been uploaded, share this checklist with the AWC eBird account with username: awcindia and make a note of the link (URL) for the eBird list, which looks like this:
   https://ebird.org/checklist/S26550997
6. Share your checklists with the eBird username: awcindia and also with those accompanying you.(see video here).
7. The AWC requires additional information beyond bird counts. Upload this extra information via the AWC India eBird Wetland Assessment Form. While filling out this form, the most crucial piece of information is the link (URL) of your eBird list for that wetland. Additional information asked for is: basic information on the wetland, visit conditions, wetland characteristics, main uses and threats to the wetland, and threats to waterbirds.  KML file of the route taken may be submitted by email to [email protected].
8. All you need to do is upload your counts for each covered wetland to eBird and then complete the AWC India eBird Wetland Assessment Form (linked above). This combination of eBird+AWC might be new to you, so if you have any questions, please do ask!

Note all the birds you see and hear, and count the numbers of each species. Upload your sightings to eBird. It’s easiest if you use the eBird mobile app while you’re birding. If you are new to using the eBird, then please watch these videos.

• Downloading and installing the eBird app
• Submitting your sightings using the eBird app (English/ Hindi)
• See eBird’s help articles : Bird Counting 101 and Bird Counting 201
• Bird Count India Webinar on Counting Birds
• Adding photographs to your eBird checklist

We encourage you to share your messages about the counts through social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linked In, etc.) and to use the following hashtags:
#waterbirdscount
#AWC
#AsianWaterbirdCensus
#InternationalWaterbirdCensus
#waterbirds
#wetlands

Header Image: Common Pochard Aythya ferina © Manash Jyoti Talukdar / Macaulay Library