14-Jan-2023: Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) 2023

What is Asian Waterbird Census?

• Citizen-science programme
• Supports conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide
• Part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC) coordinated by Wetlands International
• Runs in parallel with other regional programmes of the IWC in Africa, Europe, West Asia, the Neotropics and the Caribbean
• Initiated in the Indian subcontinent in 1987
• Jointly coordinated by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wetlands International

Survey Highlights:

• Populations of some migratory waterbirds visiting the Alappuzha region of Kerala are falling
• Missing duck species like Northern Shoveler, Common teal and Eurasian wigeon
• Climate change has affected the number of birds visiting the region
• Precise impact of climate change on bird migration requires more detailed studies

Significance of the Asian Waterbird Census

• Gives an idea of the birds at the wetland and the health of the wetland
• The more the waterbirds, the more suitable the wetland is
• Helps in better implementation of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Convention on Biological Diversity‘s (CBD)