More than 60 wild bird species were recorded during the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) held on the morning of February 14, 2026, at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal, organisers said, marking a robust showing for the citizen-science event in the heart of the city. The count aimed to collect data on bird populations and distribution patterns within this important urban green space.
The Central Forest Division, Government of Manipur, organised the programme in collaboration with Wildlife Explorers Manipur and the Kangla Board. The survey began at 7:00 am and drew forest officials, members of Wildlife Explorers, wildlife enthusiasts and volunteers who conducted systematic counts across the fort premises.
Organisers said the event also sought to raise awareness about urban biodiversity and to encourage wider public participation in monitoring local birdlife. The variety of species observed underscored Kangla Fort’s ecological value as a green oasis amid Imphal’s built environment.
The GBBC is a global citizen-science initiative launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. It was among the first online participatory science projects to collect and display near real-time data on wild birds. GBBC India takes part in the annual four-day global event held every February.
Participants are asked to count birds in their local areas for at least 15 minutes and upload observations through eBird, the platform used to aggregate GBBC records. During the Kangla Fort count, observers recorded species including Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis), Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus), White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus), Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) and Blue-throated Barbet, among others.
Organisers said the data from the Imphal count will contribute to wider efforts to track how bird populations are responding to environmental change and urban pressures, and to promote community engagement in local conservation.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/manipur/manipur-citizen-scientists-spot-over-60-bird-species-at-kangla-fort-during-gbbc-2026.html
Category: Manipur,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-02-14 20:53:00
