The Asian Waterbird Census 2026 was conducted across 27 wetlands of the Kashmir Valley on Thursday, marking one of the largest field-based biodiversity monitoring exercises in the region in recent years.
The Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir, through its Wetland Division Kashmir, carried out the exercise in coordination with the Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA). The census began at 8 am and covered 58 designated census points across north, central, and south Kashmir.
A day before the exercise, officials held an orientation programme to train participants in standard census methods and scientific protocols. Teams were briefed on bird identification, counting techniques, and data recording formats to ensure uniformity and accuracy.
The census covered key wetlands including Hokersar, Shalbugh, Haigam, Wular Lake, Dal Lake, Anchar Lake, Nigeen Lake, and Chatlam, among others. These wetlands lie along the Central Asian Flyway and serve as wintering and staging grounds for migratory birds arriving from Siberia and Central Asia every year.
The Asian Waterbird Census is an annual global citizen science programme conducted across Asia and Australasia. It generates long term data on waterbird populations and supports international conservation planning, wetland management strategies, and biodiversity assessments.
More than 350 participants joined the field exercise this year. Officials described it as one of the largest participatory conservation efforts undertaken in Kashmir.
Scholars and students from Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, especially from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and the Faculty of Forestry, took part in the exercise. Scholars from Environmental Sciences, Zoology, Botany and allied disciplines of the University of Kashmir also participated.
Students from colleges in Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam districts were present in large numbers. School students, conservation NGOs, trained volunteers, birdwatchers and civil society groups also contributed to the smooth conduct of the census.
Wildlife Warden Wetland Division Altaf Hussain said the census is not merely about counting birds. He said it is a scientifically structured estimation process aimed at tracking population trends. These trends help assess the health of wetlands and their suitability for migratory and resident waterbirds. He added that such data serve as ecological indicators for long term wetland management.
Regional Wildlife Warden Kashmir Tawheed Ahmad Deva, expressed satisfaction over the smooth conduct of the exercise. He said early field observations appear encouraging, but the final figures will be known only after detailed compilation and analysis of the data collected from all census points.
Chief Executive Director of WUCMA, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, said strong and encouraging inputs have been received from Wular Lake regarding migratory waterbirds. He noted that while significant efforts are still needed to restore the old ecological glory of Kashmir’s wetlands, conservation and restoration interventions by the Department of Wildlife Protection and WUCMA are beginning to show positive results.
Owais Farooq Mir, Coordinator with WUCMA, thanked academic institutions, organisations, schools, NGOs, and volunteers for their active participation. He said the growing scale of participation reflects rising public awareness about wetlands and other natural resources.
He added that the number of census points at Wular Lake was increased from five last year to ten this year. This expansion ensured a more comprehensive evaluation of key migratory bird habitats in the lake.
Officials said the data collected during the exercise will now be compiled and analysed. The findings will feed into national and international databases and help shape future wetland restoration and conservation policies in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Asian Waterbird Census continues to serve as a critical annual exercise for biodiversity monitoring and ecological planning in the region, linking local conservation efforts with global environmental commitments.
