Chhattisgarh: The Chhattisgarh Hareli Bird Festival 2026 concluded on August 16, recording 211 bird species across the state during the three-day citizen science campaign held from August 14 to 16.
The festival witnessed participation from more than 1,000 observers and participants across urban and rural areas. The initiative brought together the Forest Department, Chhattisgarh State Biodiversity Board, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), Gram Panchayats, urban local bodies, academic institutions, ornithologists, NGOs, YUVAAN volunteers, nature enthusiasts and local communities.
The campaign was designed not only as a bird-counting exercise but also as a statewide citizen science initiative aimed at documenting Chhattisgarh’s bird diversity and creating a scientific baseline for future conservation planning.
211 Bird Species Recorded Across Chhattisgarh
Bird Walks, bird counts and bird-watching activities were organised across all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh.
Participants surveyed a wide range of habitats, including:
- Wetlands and ponds
- Reserve forests
- Wildlife areas
- Riparian corridors
- Agricultural landscapes
- Urban and rural edges
The initiative helped document bird diversity across different ecosystems while increasing public awareness about the importance of protecting natural habitats.
Among the species recorded during the festival were Painted Stork, Red-naped Ibis, Black Bittern, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Indian Paradise-Flycatcher, Jungle Owlet, Red Junglefowl, Pied Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo.
Over 1,000 Observers Participate in 45 Bird Walks
The three-day festival saw more than 1,000 observers and participants take part in 45 Bird Walks organised across the state.
The observations were documented on eBird, creating a structured dataset that can be used for future ecological studies and conservation planning.
A total of 954 eBird checklists were submitted during the festival, covering 211 species.
The daily participation and observations included:
- August 14: 116 observers submitted 256 checklists recording 163 species.
- August 15: 95 observers submitted 245 checklists recording 182 species.
- August 16: 113 observers submitted 257 checklists recording 185 species.
The observations generated a valuable starting point for understanding bird distribution across different districts and habitats.
Bird Festival Links Hareli Tradition with Conservation
The festival was integrated with Hareli, Chhattisgarh’s traditional agricultural festival, highlighting the ecological relationship between agricultural landscapes, birds and local communities.
The initiative aimed to encourage people to identify and monitor resident bird species while developing greater awareness of natural habitats.
The broader objectives included:
- Creating verified bird datasets
- Monitoring resident bird populations
- Assessing the condition of different habitats
- Building district-level baseline records
- Supporting long-term conservation planning
- Encouraging community participation in biodiversity protection
Students and Educational Institutions Join Bird Survey
Educational institutions played an important role in the festival, with students participating in bird walks and habitat awareness programmes across several locations.
A Bird Walk was organised at Chichha Wetland by students of Mahatma Gandhi University of Horticulture and Forestry, where participants documented bird species and learned about wetland ecology.
School-level bird-watching activities were also conducted in Retawand, Katulbeda, Shivtarai, Kondagaon, Gariaband and Sarangarh-Bilaigarh.
College and university students participated in Bird Walks at Kurud College, Dhamtari; Lawan College; and Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur. Schoolchildren also took part in guided bird-watching activities at Achanakmar Tiger Reserve.
Wetlands and Protected Areas Surveyed
A significant part of the survey network covered wetlands and protected areas across the state.
The surveyed locations included:
- Kopra Jalashay Ramsar Site
- Chichha Wetland
- Katghora Pond No. 1
- Palari-Balsamund
- Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary
- Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary
- Achanakmar Tiger Reserve
- Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary
These locations provided participants with opportunities to observe birds across wetlands, forests and other important natural habitats.
Community Participation Strengthens Citizen Science Initiative
Community mobilisation was an important part of the three-day campaign. Local communities, self-help groups, Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), YUVAAN volunteers and other groups participated in bird observation and identification activities.
Honey collectors, self-help group members and YUVAAN volunteers participated in Narayanpur, while JFMCs were involved in Silpahari. Self-help groups participated in Kanker, and local communities supported activities in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi.
In Raipur’s Tor, students joined local residents for bird observation, while communities and Forest Department teams participated in bird identification activities in Sukma.
Inclusive Bird Walk Organised for Persons with Disabilities
The festival also promoted inclusive participation in nature observation.
A customised Bird Walk for blind and physically challenged participants was organised at Nandanvan Jungle Safari in Nava Raipur.
The initiative aimed to make nature observation and biodiversity awareness accessible to a wider section of society.
eBird Data to Support Future Conservation Planning
The information collected through the festival is expected to support scientific documentation and future conservation efforts in Chhattisgarh.
The data uploaded to eBird will help establish district-level baseline records, assess habitat health and identify areas requiring greater monitoring and conservation attention.
The Forest Department plans to build on the learnings from the festival through continued monitoring and community participation.
Future initiatives are expected to include:
- Regular monitoring of important wetlands and bird habitats
- Expansion of the Pakshi Mitra network
- Periodic Bird Walks
- Analysis of eBird data
- Expansion of school-level conservation programmes
- Greater community participation in biodiversity conservation
The Hareli Bird Festival 2026 has therefore emerged as a significant citizen science initiative, bringing together government agencies, researchers, students, volunteers and local communities to document and conserve Chhattisgarh’s rich bird diversity.
