Exciting Bird Discoveries in West Kameng's First Great Backyard Bird Count!

 

West Kameng district witnessed its first ever Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) from February 16th to 19th, 2024! Organized by Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, enthusiastic birders from Tukpen Bird Walk and Singchung Bugung Village embarked on a four-day adventure to document the region's avian diversity.

The count spanned various locations, including Rupa-Thungri road, Rupa Jigaon road, Singchung's Pani Tanki, and Setan Bridge. Leading the initiative was Yachang Kani, RFO, who highlighted the importance of GBBC in understanding and conserving local bird populations.

Their efforts were richly rewarded, with the team successfully recording a remarkable 24 bird species! Among the observed beauties were the vibrant Short-billed Minivet, the sleek Black Bulbul, the charismatic Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, the striking Oriental Magpie Robin, and the stunning Scarlet Minivet. Other sightings included the Red-vented Bulbul, the eye-catching Verditer Flycatcher, the melodious Blue Whistling Thrush, the colorful Yellow-breasted Greenfinch, and several Tit species like the Green-backed and Gray-crested. Interestingly, they also spotted the elusive Straited Laughing Thrush, the graceful White-throated Fantail, and the distinctive Black-throated Tit and Whiskered Yuhina. Additionally, common residents like the Indian White-eye and the Little Forktail were documented.

The event drew enthusiastic participation from Rinchin Thongdok Member State Wildlife Board, Tsering Thongdok, D K Thongon, and Bona Lama, testament to the growing interest in birdwatching and conservation in the region. The success of this inaugural GBBC paves the way for future counts, contributing valuable data to bird research and promoting environmental awareness in West Kameng.