The Karnataka Forest Department and Bird Count India launched the first Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count (KRBC) on October 27, 2026. The four-day count will run from October 30 to November 2 and aims to document around 550 bird species recorded across Karnataka’s habitats.
Bird count and participation
The event is organised by Bird Count India and the Karnataka Bird Monitoring Network, with support from the Karnataka Forest Department and the state’s birdwatching community. Participants may observe birds in wetlands, forests, fields, lakes, gardens and parks. Anyone can take part by recording birds for at least 15 minutes, and participants may choose the days and time periods in which they participate.
Participants are asked to submit complete checklists to eBird by November 10, 2026. The observations are intended to contribute to scientific data on Karnataka’s birdlife. The Forest Department also conducted a state-level online workshop for its officers in connection with the initiative.
Citizen science and identification tools
Citizen science involves public participation in activities that generate or contribute to scientific information. In the KRBC, participants use the eBird app to record bird observations and the Merlin Bird ID app to help identify birds. These tools allow observations made by members of the public to be compiled as checklists.
Kumar Pushkar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Karnataka, invited people to participate during Karnataka Rajyotsava. Dr Ashwin Viswanathan of Bird Count India said that bird observations submitted during the event would contribute to scientific data.
Ethical birdwatching practices
Participants are advised to keep a safe distance from nesting birds, avoid playback recordings used to attract birds, remain on paths and avoid chasing or disturbing birds. They are also asked to respect local communities and their privacy, and to delay sharing the locations of sensitive nesting sites.
Important Facts for Exams
:
- Karnataka Rajyotsava is observed on November 1, the date on which the Kannada-speaking regions were unified as Mysore State in 1956.
- The state was renamed Karnataka in 1973.
- eBird is a platform for recording and sharing bird observations.
- Merlin Bird ID is an application that assists users in identifying birds.
Karnataka’s bird habitats
The KRBC covers a range of habitats, including wetlands, forests, fields, lakes, gardens and parks. Participants can submit observations made in these different environments through their eBird checklists.
The KRBC runs from October 30 to November 2, 2026, and complete checklists are due by November 10, 2026.
