Salem

November arrives with the promise of more birds and more birding. Warblers, raptors, waterfowl, and a bunch of passerines have been enthralling birders who’ve been reporting them all over the country. This month is usually the time of the year when Amur Falcons pass by through the mainland, Common Cuckoos tend to be seen in larger numbers in Southern India and Geese begin to arrive in Northern India in large numbers. Will these trends continue this year? Or are there other surprises in store?

Several wintering subspecies augment the populations of our resident species in this season. The lineatus subspecies of the Black Kite, also known as the Black-eared Kite, tend to come down in droves; the Eurasian Hoopoe of the nominate form (told apart by their paler brown colour, white tips to crest) adds to the resident subspecies orientalis. If you’re in the south, observe Brown Shrikes closely for any individuals that may belong to the lucionensis subspecies, also known as Philippine Shrike (told apart by their grey crowns).

Events

4- 7 Nov: Join the Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC), an annual winter birding event that coincides with the post-harvest festival of Nagaland’s Lotha Nagas. Set against November’s cool weather, this count helps document both resident and migratory birds across Nagaland’s diverse landscapes, contributing valuable data on bird movements and climate change impacts. Click here, for details on how to participate in this unique celebration combining cultural heritage and citizen science.

5 – 12 Nov: Celebrate the legacy of two renowned ornithologists by participating in two concurrent events from November 5-12: the nationwide Sálim Ali Bird Count and Maharashtra’s Pakshi Saptah (Bird Week). Organized by BNHS-EIACP, Maharashtra Pakshimitra Sanghatana, and Bird Count India, these events coincide with the peak arrival of winter migrants, offering a perfect opportunity to document both migratory and resident birds across India. For details and participation guidelines, click here.

1 Oct 2024 – 30 Apr 2025: Join the third Asia-wide Winter Bunting Count, a citizen science initiative running from October 1st, 2024, to April 30th, 2025. This collaborative project, organized by the Japan Bird Research Association and Hong Kong Bird Watching Society in partnership with Bird Count India, aims to document bunting species across Asia. Building on the success of previous counts that saw participation from ten countries, birders can participate from any location where buntings are found. For participation guidelines and more information, please see here.

News & Updates:

eBird India Taxonomy 2024–Summary: The annual eBird/Clements checklist update is here, bringing taxonomic changes that affect bird records in South Asia. While the changes are few, they have significant regional impact, affecting species splits, lumps, and nomenclature. Click here to learn what these updates mean for your eBird lists and records. 

Launch of a new website and Bird Taxonomy Quiz: If you missed the Bird Taxonomy Quiz with Praveen J or want to watch it again, the recording is now available on YouTube! Get helpful insights on India’s bird species, subspecies, and recent updates in bird taxonomy, along with the launch of the Birds of India: A Synopsis website.

PhD Researchers sharing their bird data on eBird: Bird Count India launches an exciting initiative spotlighting PhD researchers who have shared their ornithological data through eBird, demonstrating how academic research and citizen science can complement each other. Meet the pioneering researchers who are making their valuable field data openly accessible, enriching our understanding of birds while inspiring others in academia. Read more about their stories and contributions here.

Himalayan Bird Count 2024––Final Results: The third Himalayan Bird Count held on May 11th, 2024, achieved remarkable success with 368 eBirders across India, Nepal, and Bhutan documenting 644 bird species through 1,191 checklists! This collaborative effort continues to grow since its inception in 2022, showcasing the region’s rich avian diversity. Click here to explore the complete results and see how the event has evolved over the years.