Karnataka Begins First Statewide Bird Count During Rajyotsava

The Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count, the state’s first four‑day citizen‑science survey of birds, will run from October 30 to November 2. Organisers aim to record the roughly 550 bird species that inhabit Karnataka’s wetlands, forests, fields, lakes, gardens and parks. The event is jointly run by Bird Count India and the Karnataka Bird Monitoring Network, with support from the Forest Department and the state’s birdwatching community. The Forest Department also held an online workshop for its officers ahead of the count. Kumar Pushkar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, said birds are part of Karnataka’s heritage and that Rajyotsava is the perfect time to celebrate them, inviting everyone to step outdoors and join the count. Participation is open to anyone with a smartphone; observers spend about 15 minutes recording sightings using the free eBird app and Merlin Bird ID for identification. Participants may choose any day or time within the four‑day window but must keep a safe distance from nests, avoid playback calls, stay on paths, not chase birds, respect local communities and delay sharing locations of sensitive nesting sites. Complete checklists must be uploaded to eBird by November 10 to help generate scientific data. Dr Ashwin Viswanathan of Bird Count India called the initiative a chance to show state pride and add each bird sighting to science. ## Context Citizen‑science bird counts like this one feed global databases such as eBird, helping researchers track population trends and habitat health, which is vital for conserving Karnataka’s diverse avian life.