Asian Waterbird Census-2025

Asian Waterbird Census 2025 – Coringa & Godavari Estuary, Andhra Pradesh

Location: Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) and adjoining wetlands, Kakinada & Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts, Andhra Pradesh

Event: Asian Waterbird Census 2025

Organisers: CWS authorities under Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) & Wildlife Institute of India (WII)Key Findings:

• Species Count:106 bird species recorded
  • Migratory Species: ~70
  • Waders: 56 species
  • Endangered Species: 3 (Black-bellied tern, Great knot, Indian skimmer)
  • Vulnerable Species: 1 (Common pochard)
  • Near Threatened Species: 11
• Bird Population: 39,725 individual birds counted
• Notable Observations:
  • ~450 Indian skimmers spotted
  • Great knots migrate from Siberia, Russia, China, Mongolia (~7,500 km journey)
  • Tagged migratory birds help track global movement patterns

Key Habitats: Bhairavapalem mudflat, Etimoga wetland (major winter feeding grounds)Significance:

• Coringa wetlands act as critical feeding habitat in the Asian Flyway
• High avian diversity supports candidacy for Ramsar Wetland designation
  
  Updated - January 28, 2025 08:20 pm | The Hindu