A Study Revealed by a Bird Survey – Two Critically Endangered, Four Vulnerable, and Two Endangered Species at Corbett Tiger Reserve in Nainital, Uttarakhand
A team of 62 members conducted a survey between June 20 and June 23, 2023, covering 135 forest trails for 540 km. the survey unwinded the insights of the variegated avifauna species dwelling in Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The Survey conducted in the Corbett Tiger Reserve by a group of 62 members consisted of eminent individuals from the Tiger Conservation Foundation, Village Volunteer Protection Force, volunteers from World Wide Fund (WWF) India, ornithologists, and conservationists. The survey disclosed around 275 species of birds, encompassing 2 endangered species, 2 critically endangered species and 4 vulnerable species residing in Nainital’s Corbett Tiger Reserve. The count during bird survey underwent between 20th June to 23rd June covering overall 540 km of 135 forest trails.
The survey covered a wide expanse of landscapes that includes grassland, rivers, dense forest, and hilly terrains in the reserve. As the survey report states, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list has declared the white-rumped vulture and the red-headed vulture as critically endangered species. The survey also documented Pallas’s fish-eagle and Egyptian vulture by the researchers. Halieetus leucoryphus and Neophron percnopterus are the scientific names for Pallas’s fish-eagle and Egyptian vulture respectively. Four bird species – great hornbill, grey-crowned prinia, great slaty woodpecker, and river tern, counted in the survey have also been deemed vulnerable.
Ten bird species – river lapwing, oriental darter, red-breasted parakeet, Himalayan griffon, lesser fish-eagle, gray-headed fish-eagle, great thick-knee, black-necked stork, Asian woolley-necked stork and Alexandrine parakeet have also been discovered in Corbett Tiger Reserve during the survey and are considered to be nearly threatened. Around 256 species, recorded in the survey are considered by the IUCN to be of least concern. The data derived from the survey encompass the count of both the resident species, for who, the tiger reserve is the home for the entire year as well as migratory species that seek refuge in certain seasons or during their relentless journey. An NGO named Oriental Trials, operating in favour of the conservation of wildlife assembled the final report.
