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Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Summer survey for Delhi Bird Atlas adds 21 species
The summer survey of the Delhi Bird Atlas concluded on Sunday with more than 160 species recorded across seven clusters and 145 one-sqkm subcells, officials from Delhi's forest and wildlife department said. At least 21 of these species were new ones not recorded in the winter survey, held between January 1 and the first week of February in which 200 species were recorded. Grey night herons spotted at Yamuna Biodiversity Park in 2019. (HT Archive) A preliminary report on the findings of both surveys will be released in October during Wildlife Week, the forest department said on Sunday. The Delhi Bird Atlas will be a detailed book on the Capital's bird diversity in terms of species and distribution and is planned to be released towards the end of next year after two more surveys. 'If we combine the data from both surveys, 221 species have been recorded, which is a healthy number for Delhi, considering we also covered grids that had urban spaces,' said Pankaj Gupta, regional coordinator for Bird Count India, adding that the data will help policymakers make relevant decision for developments while considering urban habitats. The summer survey was flagged off by the forest department on April 27, and more than 200 volunteers and 50 teams combed through Delhi's diverse landscapes from parks and wetlands to scrublands, residential neighbourhoods and even concretised urban and commercial spaces. At least 600 checklists were shared by birders and volunteers during this period. Overall, 21 additional species were recorded this time which were not spotted in the winter survey, officials said. These included Bonelli's eagle, Indian bush lark, Indian Golden-oriole and the greater flamingo. 'We also spotted an oriental turtle dove, which is generally seen in the winter months. We did not spot it in the winter survey, but instead saw it in the summer survey, which was a little unusual,' Gupta added. The Atlas is being prepared by Delhi's forest and wildlife department, in collaboration with birders from Bird Count India, Delhi Bird Foundation and organisations including WWF-India, Wildlife SOS, Asian Adventures and the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). Forest officials said they will require at least two more surveys — another winter and summer count, to prepare the Atlas. 'We will also map out the sightings and spread of birds in Delhi. This will also show birding hot spots,' an official said. Shyam Sunder Kandpal, Delhi's chief wildlife warden, said the preliminary report will highlight key findings of this year's winter and summer surveys. 'It will not stop here, and we plan to organise more bird walks to train more volunteers for the next season,' he said, adding that the data will also contribute towards the annual 'State of the Birds' report. Birders said that the data collection marks a crucial step in building a robust, long-term understanding of Delhi's avian biodiversity. 'While we missed a few expected species such as the woolly-necked stork and river tern, we gathered valuable data from some of the city's most overlooked spaces such as slums, drains, and garbage dumps, reminding us that even common birds tell important stories,' said Akash Gulalia, senior birder and professor at Delhi University. Birders said these surveys also showed that several lesser-known or previously overlooked green spaces outside the city's protected areas also support vibrant birdlife. 'This was far from regular birding—conducted in peak summer across drains, informal settlements, and lesser-known urban pockets. It was physically demanding in Delhi's heat but offered a meaningful opportunity to contribute to structured citizen science and support long-term urban biodiversity monitoring,' said Kaushani Banerjee, a Delhi Bird Atlas volunteer.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Shot at sight! Bird survey records 160 species in capital this summer
New Delhi: The Delhi Bird Atlas Summer Survey, which gives a detailed picture of the vibrancy of avian life across the national capital, has concluded after recording 160 species of birds this summer. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This includes 21 new sightings for the season, including the Greater Flamingo, Black Bittern, Bonelli's Eagle and the vivid Indian Pitta — a delight for both experienced birders and first-time participants. The data has revealed several patterns, including new seasonal sightings and shifts in distribution — insights that will feed into long-term biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning. The species and microhabitats recognised spread across seven clusters and 145 sub-cells. The survey saw over 200 volunteers and 50 teams combing through Delhi's diverse landscapes, from parks and wetlands to scrublands, residential neighbourhoods, airport zones and even crowded city spaces. In total, the survey yielded almost 600 checklists on the eBird application. Earlier, during the winter, experts visited over 145 city areas, forming 580 checklists and marking 200 species. Cumulatively, 221 species have been recorded in summer and winter. The summer survey started on May 1. The atlas, a citizen science programme, aims to recognise microhabitats within the city. It is being developed in collaboration with experts and several local birders and organisations, including the Delhi Forest Department, Bird Count India, Delhi Bird Foundation, WWF-India, DIAL, Wildlife SOS, and Asian Adventures. Forest officials said that once the surveys are done across four seasons spanning two years, tech companies working on mapping will be asked to create the map using the overall data. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Such surveys need to be done more often, and the department of wildlife will publish a preliminary report soon from all the data collected by the survey teams. It will not stop here. We plan to organise more bird walks to train more volunteers for the next season. Through such exercises, we also aim to bust myths and help conserve our urban wild," said Shyam Sunder Kandpal, Delhi's chief wildlife warden. "We need more citizen science projects like this one. The data generated will help policymakers make relevant decisions in such a way that it's balanced and considers urban habitats," said Pankaj Gupta, the regional coordinator of NCR for Bird Count India. Birders pointed out that the data collection is a crucial step in building a robust, long-term understanding of Delhi's avian biodiversity. Among the fascinating insights, birders observed the presence of some winter migrant species during the summer, and several resident species that went unrecorded in winter reappeared in this round of surveys. "While we missed a few expected species like the woolly-necked stork and river tern, we gathered valuable data from some of the most overlooked spaces such as slums, drains, and garbage dumps, reminding us that even common birds tell important stories," said Akash Gulalia, birder and professor at Delhi University. Birders said that lesser-known or previously overlooked green spaces outside the city's protected areas were also found to support vibrant birdlife. "This was far from regular birding — conducted in peak summer.... It was physically demanding but offered a meaningful opportunity to contribute to structured citizen science and support long-term urban biodiversity monitoring," said Kaushani Banerjee, a Delhi Bird Atlas volunteer.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Ditch day plans, unwind by Delhi's lakes on summer evenings
Want to hang out with family and friends, but the sweltering heat is stopping you? Step out when the sun goes down and head to one of Delhi's many lakes, where the vibes are cool, the skies turn gold, and there's a lot to do – or not – as you unwind amid nature. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now From taking a walk with your doggo and listening to the birds sing to enjoying a boat ride – the city's water bodies offer a relatively cool and pretty chill way to spend summer evenings. We take you through the scenic lakeside spots in the city that you can visit over the weekend. Naini Lake A North Delhi gem, Naini Lake is perfect for paddle boating and evening strolls. 'The lake is visited by many residents and college-goers in the evening. A 30-minute paddle boat ride costs Rs130 for four people. The motorboat ride costs Rs250 for six people,' shares a Delhi Tourism employee. Naini Lake 'Good time to spot resident birds' While migratory birds have departed, resident birds can be spotted in and around the lakes of Delhi during late summer afternoons. Kavi Nanda, a member of Delhi Bird Foundation, shares, 'During this time, most lakes in Delhi are home only to resident species. One may spot egrets, spot-billed ducks and herons. There's a good chance of spotting spot-billed ducks with chicks or coming across active heronries, egrets, cormorants, storks and ibises. The green patches around these water bodies are also ideal for spotting summer birds like the Indian golden oriole, Asian koel and common hawk-cuckoo.' 'Good time to spot resident birds' Sunder Nursery Lake With floral blooms on both sides of the walkway, the lake at Sunder Nursery offers a picture-perfect pause amid the heritage gardens Sunder Nursery Lake "For centuries, water bodies – baolis, temple tanks – have served as places of social congregation for people. At Sunder Nursery, the five-acre lake is a favourite among families and groups of young friends. Here, screaming wild ducks, red-vented ibis, screeching owls and squaking mynas turn the evenings into a therapeutic retreat," says Ratish Nanda, CEO, Aga Khan Trust for Culture Bhalswa Lake Tucked away in Northwest Delhi, Bhalswa is a vast lake popular for its water sports and peaceful birding spots Bhalswa Lake Purana Qila Lake Adjacent to Delhi's historic fort, this lake is known for its view of the centuries-old fort Purana Qila Lake Hauz Khas Set against the backdrop of medieval ruins, Hauz Khas lake draws crowds for evening walks, jam sessions, photography and chilled-out evenings Hauz Khas
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhi Bird Atlas summer survey flagged off at Lodhi Garden
The state forest and wildlife department on Sunday flagged-off the summer survey of the Delhi Bird Atlas at Lodhi Garden. The month-long survey will formally commence next week and will continue till early June. The flagging off took place among 100 birdwatchers, volunteers, students, wildlife experts, and conservationists. The survey, officials said, will see over 100 teams across the Capital and aims to provide data on the habitat and locations where bird species are recorded in Delhi. A comprehensive book, based on the survey, is expected to be prepared by the forest department. The Bird Atlas will likely be released by December, officials said. The inauguration was honoured by Shyam Sunder Kandpal, Delhi's chief wildlife warden and Dr Dipankar Ghose, senior director, biodiversity conservation of World Wide Fund-India. 'This unique effort by Delhi's birding community will actually bring out the ecological health of the is a unique initiative by Delhi bird watchers and nature lovers, and it will go a long way in furthering the environmental issues of Delhi,' Kandpal said on Sunday. The first census for the Bird Atlas – the winter survey – was carried out between January 1 and February's first week and revealed 200 different bird species in the Capital. Roughly 10% of Delhi's total geographical area — 1,483sqkm — was covered in the first census, which involved dividing Delhi into grids of 6.6sqkm each. The census was carried out by a team comprising birders from the Delhi Bird Foundation and Bird Count India, in collaboration with volunteers from NGOs. The forest department said the same methodology will be adapted this time, as in the winter survey. The Bird Atlas is prepared with the help of birders who are part of the Bird Count India, Delhi Bird Foundation and organisations and agencies such as WWF-India, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), Asian Adventures and Wildlife SOS among others. Forest officials said training sessions were conducted throughout April to prepare volunteers and now teams been formed across Delhi for coverage. One of the cluster heads, birder Rajesh Kalra said, 'Merlin and eBird are incredible resources that make birdwatching and data collection so much easier. But beyond that, it's about passing on our passion for birds to the next generation of birders. It's exciting to see young people getting involved and learning to appreciate the wonders of nature.' Ghose said such initiatives help in strengthening scientific knowledge and fostering environmental stewardship among citizens. 'Creating an Atlas like this is no small task. It requires dedication, patience, and a shared love for nature. The Delhi Bird Atlas is a much-needed and truly unique effort to map the rich biodiversity of our capital city,' he said, stating the findings and data will also be featured in the annual 'State of the Birds' report. In the first census, the 200 species recorded included the red-crested pochard, the paddyfield warbler, the Eurasian kestrel, and the oriental darter among others. The most common species in Delhi was the rock pigeon, with 14,127 individuals, followed by the common myna (6,411) and the black kite (6,082). The house sparrow had emerged as the ninth most commonly spotted species, with 1,364 individuals recorded.
