Himalayan Bird Count 2023—Preliminary Results

Congratulations to everyone involved in the very successful Himalayan Bird Count!

The Himalayan Bird Count (HBC) is an annual citizen science initiative aimed at documenting the diversity and abundance of bird species in the Himalaya. This preliminary report provides an overview of Himalayan Bird Count 2023 (HBC 2023) that took place on 13 May 2023, highlighting participation, key findings, and notable observations.

357 birdwatchers from three Himalayan countries – India, Nepal and Bhutan – came together and documented 625 species in 1,172 checklists! Participants represented 25 states/union territories, provinces, and districts. Thanks to all birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts from across the Himalaya who made this event a success. A special shout out to all those who took this opportunity to conduct public bird walks and introduce new people to the wonders of birds and nature!

Key Findings:

HBC 2023 saw remarkable growth in participation from Nepal and Bhutan – with 45% and 85% more checklists this year compared to the last. Impressively, birders covered 85% provinces in Nepal and 65% districts in Bhutan! Kudos to all the birdwatchers, coordinators, and members of Bird Conservation Nepal and the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, Bhutan, for making this event a big hit.

Table 1: Country-wise participation in HBC 2023

Note: The numbers provided in this summary may vary from the global results.

Nepal

Clockwise: BCN-Pokhara Branch, Sanjay Tha, Ankit Bilash Joshi, Sanjay Tha and Rajendra Gurung

71 birdwatchers in Nepal uploaded 155 lists from seven districts. Commendable efforts were put in by Bird Conservation Nepal, Pokhara Branch (BCN), for initiating and conducting a three-day ornithology course (12–14 May 2023) as part of their capacity-building efforts for university students. 35 students who attended this course participated in HBC 2023!

Another group of BCN members also went birding in the Godavari Forest (Lower Phulchowki Hill) and clocked 67 species. Here is a short story on their birding trip and their highlights.

Table 2: No. of participants in Nepal provinces

Bhutan

Rufous-necked Hornbill recorded during HBC 2023

In Bhutan, 39 birdwatchers uploaded 141 lists.

Table 3: No. of participants in Bhutan districts

India

Clockwise Photos by: Dr.Stanzin Namgail, Koj Mama, Irfan Jheelani, Rozan Dhungel and Trilok Rana

In the Himalayan regions of India, a total of 227 birdwatchers from seven states and union territories participated in this event.

Table 4: No. of birdwatchers in Indian States and UTs (ordered by geography from west to east).
The Himalayan regions in West Bengal are Alipurduar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Kalimpong

Jammu & Kashmir

HBC Coordinators spread the joy of birding by taking students on birdwalks. Many of them were birding for the first time, and they were delighted to see Ibisbills during their birdwalk.

Ladakh

The Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh (WCBCL), in collaboration with UNDP SECURE Himalaya, WWF, NCF, and Snow Leopard Conservancy, Ladakh, celebrated HBC by conducting bird walks and talks for three schools in Leh. WCBCL also held an exhibition showcasing photographs of birds in Ladakh. A book titled Bird Life of Ladakh by Mohd Abbas, ex-DFO and Advisor WCBCL, was also launched by the Chief Guest, Dr. B.D. Mishra on this day.

Students participating in birdwalk and talk organised by WCBCL in Leh. Photo by WCBCL

Himachal Pradesh: 

Along with individual birdwatchers, the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department played a big role in coordinating the event and ensuring the maximum number of districts participated in this event. Kudos to their commendable efforts!

Uttarakhand

Birdwatchers in Tehri Garhwal and Pithoragarh conducted public walks. Nature enthusiasts attending a butterfly festival also participated in the event. 

Species Diversity

An impressive diversity of 625 species was recorded, with many species at their peak of the breeding season and singing. Birdwatchers did not just make lists of the birds they saw or heard but also documented signs of breeding by recording songs, videos, and photographs and maintaining detailed notes.

Here are some of the interesting species documented during HBC 2023:

Spiny Babbler and Bugun Liocichla – Both iconic localized endemics to the Himalaya

Kashmir Nutcracker and Kashmir Flycatcher – special birds from the western parts of the Himalaya

Ibisbill – a species like no other with its long red bill and red legs, reported from Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir

Hill Partridge, Chestnut-breasted Partridge, and Rufous-throated Partridge – three elusive partridges that are more often heard than seen

Western Tragopan and Satyr Tragopan – A dream for birdwatchers around the world

Great Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, White-breasted Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, and Black-throated Parrotbill – Bamboo specialists found typically at high elevations 

White-bellied Heron – reported from Bhutan that holds one of the last populations of this critically endangered bird.

Gathering basic information on such endangered species is one of the main goals of the Himalayan Bird Count!

The Himalaya is well known for the diversity of cuckoos and woodpeckers, and 16 species of cuckoos and 19 species of woodpeckers were documented in this HBC!

One of the great joys of birdwatching in the Himalaya is that you not only see special birds but also other special creatures. In Uttarakhand, during the Devalsari Titli Utsav (Devalsari Butterfly Festival) that coincided with HBC 2023, butterfly enthusiasts showed their support by watching and documenting birds. Among the other butterflies, the two unique butterflies seen were the Hairy Angle and the Stately Nawab.

In Sikkim, during HBC 2023, a Red Fox was sighted.

In Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, birdwatchers saw a colourful and elusive butterfly called Kaiser-i-Hind, also the state butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh.

Clockwise Photos by: Punyo Chada, Dibyendu Ash, Koj Mama and Sanjay Sondhi

Conclusion:

HBC is intended to serve as a platform to raise awareness about bird conservation in the Himalaya. Many birdwatchers and institutions, including local bird clubs, forest departments, nature guides, and nature enthusiasts, used this opportunity to highlight the importance of preserving habitats and protecting Himalayan bird species. Thank you to everyone for interacting with the public and students, organising bird walks and talks, and promoting the joy of birdwatching.

Here are some eBird Tripreports made during HBC 2023: 

https://ebird.org/india/tripreport/129976 

https://ebird.org/india/tripreport/127704

https://ebird.org/tripreport/129396

The Himalayan Bird Count will return next year on 11 May, 2024, with the hope of generating even more enthusiasm among birdwatchers and enthusiasts across India, Nepal, and Bhutan!

Please note that this preliminary report provides an overview of the event. More detailed analysis and findings will be presented in the final report, which will be released by the end of June upon completion of the data analysis.

Banner Image: Himalayan Landscape from Jammu & Kashmir. Photo by Muzaffar Kichloo