Description

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Context:

As per the Asian Waterbird Census, ''A record number of 39,725 birds belonging to 106 species have been sighted in the Coringa and adjoining wetlands.

Key highlights of the Census

The bird counting campaign was organized by a team of 35 participants, divided into five groups.
Teams created a complex number of birds in places including the Asan Lake, the Yamuna and Asan rivers, the Shivalik mountain range, and nearby protected forests.
Methodology: More than 150 volunteers and forest staff explored 23 seats after a predetermined protocol, which calculated water birds and documented other bird species. Observers also recorded the behavior and activities of birds around and their surroundings.
Participation: The Asian census for waterfowl has also occurred on 23 wetlands via Uttarakhand. The initiative was supported by the Uttarakhand forests and included various NGOs (NGOs).

About the Asian Waterbird Census

Category	Details
Program Name	Civil science initiative for wetland and waterbird conservation.
Objective	Promotes protection and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide.
Part of	Global International Waterbird Census (IWC).
Established	1987 in the Indian subcontinent.
Expansion	Covers the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and parts of the Central Asian Flyway, from Afghanistan to Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australasia.
Occurrence	Conducted annually.
India’s Implementation	Conducted in early January each year by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

About Asan Conservation Reserve

Category	Details
Location	Dehradun district, Uttarakhand, along the Asan River near its confluence with the Yamuna River.
Area	444 hectares.
Asan Barrage	Built in 1967; caused siltation, creating bird-friendly habitats.
Bird Diversity	Home to 330 bird species, including: Critically Endangered: Red-headed vulture, White-rumped vulture, Baer’s pochard. Significant Populations: Red-crested pochard, Ruddy shelduck (over 1% of their biogeographical populations).
Other Wildlife	49 fish species, including the endangered Putitor mahseer.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

Category	Details
Location	Part of the Godavari estuary, where the Coringa River meets the Bay of Bengal, Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh.
Geographical Feature	"Hope Island" blocks the direct confluence of the sea and Godavari; 40% of the sanctuary consists of sea backwaters, with the rest being creeks and tidal waters.
Vegetation	Extensive mangrove and dry deciduous tropical forests; second-largest mangrove stretch in India.
Flora	Mangrove species like Rhizophora spp, Avicennia spp, Sonnertia spp.
Fauna	Endangered mammals: Smooth Indian otter, Fishing cat, Jackal. Bird species: Black-capped kingfisher, Brahminy kite, Sea gulls, Reef heron, Sandpiper.
Conservation Significance	The sea coast is a breeding ground for Olive Ridley turtles.

About Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

It is a Non-Governmental Organisation in India engaged in researching protection and biodiversity.
BNHS was referred to as the organization of Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
BNHS is a partner of Birdlife International in India.

Source:

THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Discuss the significance of the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) in the conservation of migratory bird species in Asia. What are the challenges and strategies involved in conducting this census, and how does it contribute to sustainable wetland management? (250 words)