Shimla 10 May 2026
Himachal Pradesh witnessed a historic milestone in bird conservation and citizen science during the Himalayan Bird Count and Global Big Day held on 09 May 2026. For the first time, birdwatching and bird documentation activities were successfully conducted across all 12 districts of the state, marking a major achievement for bird conservation efforts in Himachal Pradesh.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from birdwatchers, students, nature lovers, photographers, forest officials, and local communities who came together to document the rich bird diversity of the Himalayan region through the eBird platform.
Event Highlights -Year wise
2024 166 bird species 78 checklist in 8 District
2025 183 bird species 78 checklists and in 8 districts
2026 208 bird species 146 checklists and in 12 districts
Key Achievements – 2026
• All 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh actively participated for the first time.
• A total of 208 bird species were recorded during the event.
• More than 1500 birders, naturalists, students, and nature enthusiasts participated across the state.
• Mandi recorded the highest participation with 37 checklists, followed by Kinnaur with 31.
• Kangra documented the highest bird diversity with 126 species recorded.
• Newly participating districts like Hamirpur and Una also showed encouraging participation and species documentation.
During the count, birders observed that many bird species were actively breeding during this time of the year, which experts described as a positive indicator for the health of Himalayan ecosystems and bird populations.
The organizers described the results as a strong indication of the rapidly growing birding culture and public participation in nature conservation across Himachal Pradesh.
Regional Bird Count India Coordinator Santosh Thakur said that the remarkable rise in participation this year was possible because of continuous awareness efforts carried out among local communities, educational institutions, birding groups, and nature enthusiasts across the state. He added that the response from people was extremely encouraging, with enthusiastic participation recorded from every district of Himachal Pradesh.
He further stated that events like the Himalayan Bird Count help people become more aware of the birds and ecology around them and encourage a stronger connection with nature. Such citizen-driven initiatives also generate important long-term scientific data, which can play a crucial role in understanding bird population trends and supporting future conservation planning in the Himalayan region.
R. Lalnun Sanga, IFS and PCCF Wildlife-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden, congratulated and thanked all the participants, district coordinators, volunteers, birding groups, and local communities for their enthusiastic participation and support during the event. He stated that such citizen-science initiatives and conservation activities will play an important role in strengthening future biodiversity conservation efforts in Himachal Pradesh.
Dr. Amit Kumar Sharma, IAS and Deputy Commissioner Kinnaur, emphasized that initiatives like bird festivals and bird counts are extremely important for biodiversity conservation. He added that such activities not only spread awareness among people but also open new opportunities for nature education, eco-tourism, and community participation in conservation activities in Himalayan regions.
