40th Asian Waterbird Census on January 10, 11 in Godavari estuary

The 40th Asian Waterbird Census and 60th International Waterbird Census will enumerate the bird species of Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and it’s adjoining wetlands on January 10 and 11, 2026.

The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) will enumerate the bird species. This will be the 10th census to be conducted in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and it’s adjoining wetlands.

The census will focus on the presence of four major species endangered Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis), endangered Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Near Threatened Eurasian Curlews (Numenius arquata) andEurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus). All the four bird species are migratory which arrive at the Godavari estuary for feeding during the winter.

The Godavari estuary is one of the prominent sites in India, in which Indian Skimmer and Great Knot can be sighted together. Coringa Sanctuary Wildlife Ranger Mr. Vara Prasad said that local birdwatchers would also be welcomed to join in the census.