Among those recorded was the Pallas’s Eagle, an endangered species. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
GUWAHATI
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, home to the largest number of one-horned rhinos in the world, recorded 146 species in the latest bird survey, Assam wildlife officials said on Sunday (Oct 19, 2025).
The survey by Assam Bird Monitoring Network in collaboration with Kaziranga authorities was timed with Kati Bihu on Saturday. It took place at five key locations – the Agoratoli, Gamiri, Panbari and Panpur ranges of the National Park and the adjacent Laokhowa Nature Reserve.
The inspectors recorded 1919 bird individuals belonging to 146 species. Agoratoli showed the highest diversity with 89 species, followed by Gamiri and Panbari (59 species each), Panpur (55 species) and Laokhowa (37 species).
Two of the recorded species (marsh sandpiper and Pallas’s fish eagle) were threatened, six (osprey, spotted eagle, slender-billed gobbler, lesser stork, great hornbill and marsh francolin) vulnerable, six (wafer-crested stork, northern lapwing, crested lapwing, spotted pelican and lapwing). near threatened and 132 species of least concern.
Kaziranga officials said several important resident and migratory birds were recorded during the survey. These include the blue-eared barbet, blue jay, grey-headed jay, grey-headed woodpecker, greater drongo and the Indian duck.
“The Kati Bihu Bird Count 2025 served as a major citizen science initiative that promotes inclusive community-based conservation. The active participation of students, youth, birders and especially forest staff demonstrated the growing commitment to wildlife conservation in Assam,” said Kaziranga Director Sonali Ghosh.
Autumn Kati Bihu is one of the three main fields of Assam. The others are bhógali or magh bihu in mid-January and rongali or bohag bihu in mid-April.
Published – 19 October 2025 22:12 IST
