Healthy avian biodiversity in Mumbai’s green lungs

Bird experts and volunteers at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park to participate in the forest department’s annual bird count. The programme was coordinated by BNHS assistant director Dr Raju Kasambe (second from right). Pic/Dr Raju Kasambe

The annual bird count on October 29 at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the neighbouring Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary has documented 101 bird species including the three new additions to the list. The outcome of the bird count has served as a significant reminder of the abundant biodiversity in SGNP and the neighboring Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. During the bird count, a total of 101 bird species were documented.

The forest department along with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has been documenting the avian diversity of SGNP and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary and this exercise is being carried out jointly with the involvement of the citizens.

BNHS Director Kishor Rithe said, "BNHS has completed the annual bird count at SGNP and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday which was attended by over 50 BNHS members and volunteers. The day closed with 101 bird species recorded by the team. This groundbreaking endeavour not only reaffirmed the sanctuaries' status as an avian paradise, three new species - the Indian Roller, Mongolian, Short-toed Lark, and Eurasian Hobby, were added to the existing checklist of birds." Rithe said these new discoveries have joined the list of 219 recorded avian species in the region.

The bird count was conducted and coordinated by Dr Raju Kasambe, assistant director, conservation, BNHS and Asif Khan from the programmes department of BNHS, at 12 different sites in SGNP and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. The forest department and BNHS began monitoring the birds in SGNP and TWS in February 2021 through a citizen science programme called the SGNP Bird Monitoring Programme or SGNP Bird Count. Under this programme, BNHS conducts a bird count every month at various locations of the SGNP and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. SGNP authorities feel that this will help in preparing a database of the native and migratory birds that are seen in the park.

Did you know?

Similar Bird Diversity of SGNP survey was done in 2014-2015, during which 194 species of birds were recorded from SGNP, including four rare species of Eastern Imperial Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Forest Wagtail and Malabar Grey Hornbill.

Three
New species of birds found