The Hills Are Alive

With over 350 bird species recorded in the Uttarakhand landscape, the 7th edition of Great Himalayan Bird Count was a resounding success. Here’s a report.

- Prateek Panwar

The Great Himalayan Bird Count (GHBC) is a pioneering conservation festival, where citizen scientists participate to add to existing knowledge of Himalayan birds and their conservation. Sound knowledge of species and their habitats helps in effective conservation planning, especially in the fragile eco-systems of the Himalayas. Today, GHBC attracts Indian and global participants.

The 7th Great Himalayan Bird Count brought together a large number of enthusiasts, who were equally excited at the prospect of exploring the Indian Himalayas’ rich biodiversity in search of birds. The Himalayas are a natural haven for twitchers and birdwatchers looking for lifers, since in Uttarakhand alone, one can find above 720 species out of a total 1250 bird species found in India.

 Action & Research for Conservation in Himalayas (ARCH) is a non-profit organisation focussing strongly on avian and habitat conservation in the Himalayas. It has successfully conducted many important conservation programs for birds in the past, including GHBC.