Nagaland birders report 210 chicken species throughout 2nd TEBC | MorungExpress

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 9 (MExN): Nagaland reported 210 species in 320 checklists throughout the 2nd version of Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC). Over the course of 4 days, 47 birders participated within the 2nd version of TEBC which concluded synchronously with the Lotha pageant of Tokhü Emong on November 8.

In the spirit of celebration, fellowship, and reconciliation, TEBC 2023 helped reconnect communities with birds round them and foster renewed understanding, a press launch acknowledged. On the final day, 19 birders contributed 74 checklists throughout 7 Territorial Forest Divisions – counting over 80 species. The participation of birders was greater than double the participation from final yr.

This yr, TEBC was undertaken in all 11 territorial Forest Divisions in Nagaland. Eco Warriors Nagaland recognized a nodal person from each district and deployed discipline groups. Through the Directorate of School Education of Government of Nagaland, 14 authorities colleges took half of their respective districts, particularly, Government Primary School Fakim, Government Middle School Pungro Town, Government Middle School Okotso, Government High School Tizit, Government School Satakha, Government Middle School Sangphur B, Government Middle School Jalukie, Government Primary School Khenyu, Thetsumi Government High School, Government Middle School Sanglao, Government High School Zhadima, GHSS Singrijan, Government Middle School Tuensang, and Government Middle School Sector-A Wokha.

Bethesda School Okotso, Baptist Thangyen HSS, Unity Christian HSS Chümoukedima, RC Chiten Memorial Government High School Changtongya Town, Loyola HSS Kiphire and St Xavier’s College, Jalukie additionally participated within the occasion.

Manash Pratim coated Mon district in North-Eastern Nagaland contributing 14 eBird checklists and 118 species.

Range Forest Officer, Lansothung Lotha led a three-member staff that coated Tuensang, Mokokchung, Zunheboto, and Wokha districts over a four-day lengthy tour, assembly faculty youngsters, native youths, and front-line forest workers and contributing 52 checklists with 90 species. The staff contributed the primary eBird checklists ever for the Tuensang district – one of many solely two districts in your entire nation that didn’t have a single guidelines within the eBird database. Now, the eBird database notes 39 avian species from Tuensang district. After TEBC 2023, the Nagaland state database information 282 species in Kohima district and 97 in Longleng district. 

This yr, scientists from Wildlife Institute of India (WII) contributed checklists from Longleng whereas scientists from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and WWF-India contributed observations from Kohima district along with native contributors. The staff from Foundation of Ecological Security (FES) coated the districts of Wokha, Phek, and Dimapur. Thanamir Researchers’ Team coated Kiphire district contributing 17 checklists with a complete of 82 species.

Several groups reported flocks of Amur Falcons flying over the skies. Blyth’s Tragopan, the state chicken, was recorded in Kohima district. Naga Wren Babbler, endemic to the Naga Hills, was reported in Kohima and Zunheboto districts. The State of India’s Birds 2023 report compiled by 13 accomplice organisations information 4 ‘Highest Priority Species’ for Nagaland: Blyth’s Tragopan, Naga Wren Babbler, Dark-rumped Swift, and Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush. In addition, Manipur Fulvetta is added to the listing of ‘Species of Highest Conservation Priority’ for the state. There are much more sparrows in Nagaland than meet the attention, particularly the Eurasian Tree Sparrow and Russet Sparrow.

“Significant gaps remain in our current understanding of avian population and their habitats in Nagaland. It is time to revive traditional knowledge and streamline it with modern technology to recreate a harmonious cohabitation,” stated Lansothung. 

“Our biggest challenge during TEBC was to distribute a sufficient number of binoculars to our participants. Binoculars provide a big difference in bird-watching experience. We hope that more sponsors will come forward in the future to supply binoculars to help our budding bird watching community,” Chenibemo Odyuo, Team Leader, Nagaland Forest Management Project, FES Phek identified. 

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden, Vedpal Singh appreciated the efforts like by TEBC to doc the wealthy avian variety of Nagaland. “Challenges are many, but volunteers did a marvellous job in enriching the open-source database which will prevent biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems,” he added. 

“TEBC is a way to reflect on our relationships with nature and sustainability. It calls for an effective stewardship of the natural bounty that we have been endowed with. Collectively, we can work better towards conservation and biodiversity resource management,” stated Dharmendra Prakash, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force.

TEBC as a platform for citizen science brings collectively and expert volunteers unveiling the present variety of life, its historical past, and vulnerability. Indigenous worldview, oral histories, myths, and legends might be important in remodeling celebration, fellowship, reconciliation, and stewardship. 

Besides partaking in birding periods, TEBC contributors have been additionally concerned in numerous coaching programmes in all of the districts of Nagaland to over 350 college students, frontline forest workers and common public. TEBC 2023 was organised in collaboration with the Wokha Forest Division and the Divisional Management Unit, Nagaland Forest Management Project, Wokha district, and Bird Count India. Partners becoming a member of the TEBC 2023 are Department of School Education Nagaland, Foundation for Ecological Security and Eco Warriors Nagaland. The occasion is powered by eBird India. This yr, the Practicing Food Sovereignty analysis staff from the University of Melbourne, Stockholm University, and North Eastern Social Research Centre additionally joined as analysis companions.