GUWAHATI:
A total of 193 Asian waterbirds of 12 various species were found in six wetlands of the state during the Asian Waterbird census 2023.
In addition to this, 148 birds of five other species were also found in the wetlands.
The number of Asian Waterbirds in the wetlands of Meghalaya has increased to the previous year.
In 2022, the first-ever Asian Waterbird Census at Umiam Lake in Ri Bhoi district identified eight species comprising 102 waterbirds.
In 2022, the bird count was conducted in five sites- Umsaw, Umbir, Umiush, Mawlyndep and Umiam covering wetland areas of Umiam.
This year census was conducted in six sites- Umsaw, Umbir, Umniuh, Mawlyndep, Umiam, and Riat Khwan covering the wetland area of Umiam Lake in the district.
The census was conducted by the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board (MBB) with the help of the Forest Department and Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC).
Retired IAS officer and North East coordinator of Asian Waterbird Census 2023, Dr Anowaruddin Choudhury, DFO of Shilling Wildlife Division Sachin Gavade, DFO of Social forestry division, H Lato with the help of the technical staff of the board.
“This is the second census we conducted in Meghalaya. The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC). This citizen-science programme is supporting the conservation and management of wetlands and waterbirds worldwide,” MBB member secretary B M N Luikhan said.