In recently conducted Great Backyard Bird Count during 14 to 17 Feb 2014 in the world, bird list has been compiled from 127 countries and preliminary data has been compiled on 22 Feb 2014. As per reports, India has reported highest number of bird species with count of 765! It may be mentioned that, Indian state Assam has reported highest count of 399 species during the Big Bird Day on 16th Feb 2014.
Final results of the four-day Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), held between February 14 and 17, are yet to be announced but the data analyzed and updated till February 28 shows that the final order may not change India’s position.
In its report, ‘Want to see a wide variety of birds? Head to India’, the daily said, “India’s emergence as a bird-watching hot spot underscores the rising worldwide popularity of the pastime.” It put India on top with 765 species. The US came second with 637 species (till February 22).
Latest updates, checked by TOI on Sunday, however, showed that though the US slipped to third spot a week after the American daily first flagged the preliminary results, India continues to maintain its lead.
The GBBC is jointly organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society and the Bird Studies Canada. Though the US and Canada have been participating in the event since 1998, the first ever such ‘global’ bird count was organized in 2013 when participants from 110 countries sent their entries during February 15-18 last year.
Bird watchers from all seven continents had last year reported and documented 4,258 species from about 180 bird families. Mexico had topped the 2013 GBBC list with 645 species followed by the US (638), India (544), Costa Rica (508), Colombia (424), Australia (383), Panama (371) and Peru (325).
The second version of the global bird count, updated till February 28, however, showed that participants from 127 counties this time found 4,296 species with India reporting the highest number of 819 species followed by Mexico (683), USA (644), Costa Rica (609), Australia (501), Colombia (397), Panama (278) and Peru (138).
Details here in Times of India
