Sri Vijaya Puram | January 12, 2026
The Asian Waterbird Census (AWBC), an annual initiative of Wetlands International aimed at monitoring wetland bird populations and assessing the health of wetland habitats across Asia, is currently underway in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The census, being conducted locally by the Andaman Avians Club (AAC), began on January 3 and will continue till January 18, 2026.
This year’s census in the Islands is being carried out in collaboration with multiple organisations, including the Department of Environment & Forests, Andaman & Nicobar Administration; Directorate of Education; Andaman Nicobar Environment Team (ANET)–Dakshin Foundation; The Naturalist School, Bengaluru; and Tribemen.in, ensuring wide stakeholder participation.
As part of the ongoing exercise, a survey was conducted on January 11 at the Ograbraj wetlands. Birders from AAC were joined by members of ANET, Wildlife Institute of India, Tribemen.in, Forest Department staff, school teachers and students from GSSS Tushnabad and GMS Ograbraj, children from the nearby IRBn campus, tourism students from ITI Dollygunj, and several parents who volunteered for the programme.
The event was graced by Mr Dinesh Kannan, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Environment & Forests, as the chief guest, along with Mr Sandeep Behra, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), South Andaman. Secretary (Tourism), Ms Jyothi Kumari, IAS, also attended the programme.
Participants were divided into teams and briefed on wetland ecosystems, dependent bird species, use of binoculars and preparation of checklists before undertaking a bird walk along the Ograbraj wetlands. The survey documented over 40 bird species, including a healthy population of the endemic Andaman Teal. The data collected will be uploaded to the eBird portal, through which the AWBC is monitored.
The programme also witnessed the participation of Mr Andrew and Mrs Puja Sharma from New York. Mr Andrew, associated with the Cornell Lab that developed the eBird application, interacted with the participants and appreciated the enthusiastic involvement of school children in conservation activities.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Dinesh Kannan emphasised the vital role played by birds in seed dispersal and forest regeneration and underlined the need to curb illegal hunting of bird species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Dr Ashwini Kumar, President, Andaman Avians Club, encouraged students to take up birdwatching by observing birds around their homes and schools and called for greater public participation in conservation initiatives through the AAC.
The Asian Waterbird Census is powered by eBird India, Bird Count India, Bombay Natural History Society and Wetlands International. While the census period across Asia extends from December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026, the main survey period in India is from January 3 to January 18, 2026. In the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, surveys are being conducted from Diglipur to Great Nicobar during this period, with coverage of some remote islands to be completed before February 28, 2026, according to Mr Amrit Raha, A&N Islands eBird Regional Coordinator.
