In the enthusiasm among bird watchers engaged in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), what has gone unnoticed is Bird Count India achieving a milestone of one million (10 lakh) sightings.
This was achieved on February 5, and that too in a short span of seven years, though active bird counting began only in 2013.
P. Jaganathan, partner, Bird Count India, while appreciating the contribution of bird watchers in the achievement, said in a country with a large population, if more people came forward to contribute regularly, more bird species could be identified.
Sharing his experience — Mr. Jaganathan has identified more than 558 bird species across the country — he said bird enthusiasts with expertise have a greater role to play in recording more species.
Bird Count India is a consortium of organisations and individuals with the eBird mobile and web application that is used as a platform for maintaining the counting of birds.