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Karnataka Birds Soar: 407 Species Counted!
6 Nov
Summary
- Karnataka's first bird count identified 407 species.
- Over 2,252 birders participated in the four-day event.
- Uttara Kannada and Mysuru led in species diversity.
Karnataka's first-ever Rajyotsava Bird Count, concluding on November 2, 2026, revealed an impressive avian diversity, documenting 407 bird species across the state. This landmark initiative, spanning four days from October 30 to November 2, 2026, engaged 2,252 citizen birders who submitted 8,223 checklists on the eBird portal. The project aimed to catalog Karnataka's rich birdlife, encouraging widespread participation from nature enthusiasts.
Preliminary results highlighted significant geographical variations, with the forest-rich Uttara Kannada district leading in species count at 300, followed by Mysuru (260) and Bengaluru Urban (241). Bengaluru Urban also recorded the highest participation with 341 birders and 788 checklists, demonstrating strong engagement beyond major urban centers. The second day of the count, October 31, 2026, saw peak activity with 1,461 birders contributing data.
The count identified 52 species as 'Karnataka's everyday birds,' found across all regions, while 32 species were unique to single districts, particularly shorebirds and wetland birds in Udupi and Uttara Kannada. Common species like the Asian Koel and House Sparrow were widely observed, contrasting with rarer sightings such as the Eurasian Oystercatcher in Udupi. The initiative also successfully drew attention to districts with historically lower birding engagement, significantly boosting checklist submissions from these areas.
