Asia Waterbird Census to be conducted in wetlands of Delhi NCR

Asia Waterbird Census (AWC), the largest annual waterbird census in Asia is being carried out at seven major wetlands including three in Noida & Greater Noida. This bird count is being conducted by AWC in collaboration with UP state forest/wildlife department, in presence of AWC Delhi state coordinator and conservation volunteers from different universities, organizations, birders and forest department staff.

Asia Waterbird Census (AWC) is a citizen-science programme supporting the conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide. AWC is carried out simultaneously across Asia and Australasia by a national network of volunteers in coordination with the AWC state coordinators, to record the status of the wetland's habitat, waterbird species diversity and population estimates based on the international protocol & methodology.

Asia Waterbird Census 2022 will take place from January 1- 16, 2022.

AWC 2022 will be carried out at the following wetlands in NCR-Delhi and dates as follows:-

04/01/2022:- Dhanauri Wetland, Greater Noida
05/01/2022:- Surajpur Wetland, Greater Noida
06/01/2012:- NZP and Sanjay Lake, New Delhi
07/01/2022:- Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Noida
08/01/2022:- Najafgarh Jheel, Haryana-Delhi
09/01/2020:- River Yamuna, Delhi.

This census is dedicated to maintaining a water birds count recognized by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in the National Action Plan for Conservation of Migratory Birds & their habitats along the Central Asian Flyway. It also helps in identifying and protecting new sites of importance for waterbirds. The result of the census and information is also used to promote national waterbird and wetland conservation and international cooperation along the Central Asian Flyway and East Asian – Australasian Flyway.

Interested volunteers can join the AWC 2022 and contribute to the conservation of wetlands & waterbirds in Delhi NCR  through AWC Delhi State Coordinator with advance confirmation.