In News:

As per the Asian Waterbird Census-2025, a record number of 39,725 birds belonging to 106 species have been sighted in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining wetlands.

Asian Waterbird Census (AWC): An Overview

• AWC is an annual citizen-science programme that supports the conservation of wetlands and waterbirds across Asia.
• Initiated in 1987 in the Indian subcontinent, it now covers extensive regions of East and Southeast Asia, Japan, Australasia, and parts of the Central Asian and East Asian–Australasian Flyways.
• AWC is the Asian chapter of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC).
• In India, it is coordinated by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) every January.

About BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society)

• An Indian NGO engaged in biodiversity research and conservation.
• Recognized as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) by the Department of Science and Technology.
• Official partner of BirdLife International in India.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh): Census Findings 2025

• The Asian Waterbird Census 2025 recorded a record 39,725 birds representing 106 species in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) and adjoining Godavari estuary wetlands.
• Of these, nearly 70 species are migratory, using the site as a key winter feeding ground.

Species of Conservation Concern

• Endangered species sighted:
  • Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) – ~450 individuals sighted
  • Black-bellied Tern (Sterna acuticauda)
  • Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
• Vulnerable species: Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
• Near Threatened species: 11 species identified

Migratory Pathways and Monitoring

• Migrants such as the Great Knot travel from Russia, Siberia, China, and Mongolia to the Godavari estuary.
• A tagged Great Knot, tracked from Russia, was recorded after a 7,500 km journey, seen in Bhairavapalem mudflat and Etimoga wetland in successive winters (2024 and 2025).
• Data sharing with global avian research groups aids in tracking migratory patterns and supports conservation of endangered species.

Ecological and Ramsar Significance

• The Godavari estuary supports feeding grounds for nearly 90,000 birds, as observed by CWS authorities.
• Avian diversity is a key criterion for Ramsar Site designation, and experts advocate for Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and its surroundings to be recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.