Is Goa’s bird diversity on the decline? Not really, and the answer to this question cannot be a straightforward one. Take the case of waterfowl birds; while the overall population of some of the species are seeing a decline, the bird diversity has remained the same.
Naturalist and avid birder, Parag Rangnekar, observes, “The trend in the last 10 years very clearly indicates that the diversity (or species) of waterfowl birds coming to Goa hasn’t changed much.”
ANNUAL WATERFOWL COUNT
However, Parag points out, there is a noticeable decline in the number of birds within each species. Many of these species play a very crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the State’s wetlands, he adds.
The annual All Goa Waterfowl Count (AGWC), conducted every January for more than a decade, sheds light on the waterfowl bird count in the State.
The annual All Goa Waterfowl Count (AGWC), conducted every January for more than a decade, sheds light on the waterfowl bird count in the State.
A CITIZEN-DRIVEN EFFORT
Coordinated by the Goa Bird Conservation Network, AGWC has been accounting for waterfowl birds, seen at 21 wetlands across the State, for more than a decade.
“These wetlands have been crucial not only as habitats for birds, but also for the overall health and sustainability of their populations,” emphasises Rangnekar.
AGWC is a completely citizen-driven initiative, guided and supported by the Goa Bird Conservation Network.
These wetlands have been crucial not only as habitats for birds, but also for the overall health and sustainability of their populationsParag Rangnekar, Naturalist and birder
INCREASED WETLAND MONITORING
This year, the AGWC was conducted from January 4 to 14, and this time, it included monitoring of 32 notified wetlands, an increase from 21 in previous years.
“For the last two years, we have included all these notified wetlands, recognised by the Goa State Wetland Authority and the Goa State Biodiversity Board,” informs Parag.
COMPREHENSIVE BIRD COUNT
The AGWC is a multi-organisational initiative, involving the Goa Forest Department, Goa State Biodiversity Board, Goa State Wetland Authority, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), and Wetlands International. Both, BNHS and Wetlands International are partner organisations.
“The AGWC is not just about identifying species, but involves a thorough or individual count of birds within these wetlands,” he adds.
The AGWC is not just about identifying species, but involves a thorough or individual count of birds within these wetlandsParag Rangnekar, Naturalist and birder
CRUCIAL DATA
“More than 50 volunteers from the GBCN participated and contributed their insights to this exercise. The data of the birds collected from January 4 to 14, is being analysed to get insights into trends of waterfowl numbers and diversity,” says Rangnekar.
The analysed data is being collated into a report that will be shared with all the partner organisations. This kind of monitoring is crucial for tracking the state of biodiversity in Goa, particularly in wetlands, which serve as critical habitats for a wide range of bird species.
THRIVING TOURISM EXPERIENCE
The waterfowl birds, seen at the wetlands, attract nature enthusiasts and avid birdwatchers.
While the experience is a big draw for those who visit, this kind of tourism cannot be quantified in numbers—it’s an experience that goes beyond statistics.