Great Backyard Bird Count 2026: North Coastal Andhra posts strong species tally

The mid-February ritual of observing birds from balconies, campuses, wetlands and village tanks has gradually become one of the country’s most reliable citizen science exercises. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), coordinated globally by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and its partners, has seen India’s participation since it was expanded globally in 2013.

The 2026 edition documented 1087 species, ranking India second worldwide. Within the national canvas, Andhra Pradesh presented a revealing cross-section of habitats, from the dry areas of Rayalaseema to the estuaries of the northern coastal regions. The state ranked 12th in overall species count with 319 species. West Bengal topped the national rankings with 519 species, reflecting its mosaic of Himalayan foothills, Gangetic plains and coastal wetlands.

Region-based data underscores how geography shapes the checklist. Chittoor topped the state with 203 species, followed by Anantapur with 165 species. In northern Andhra, Vizianagaram ranked sixth with 141 species, while Visakhapatnam was ranked ninth with 133 species. Although Srikakulam ranks lower in the official leadership rankings this year, it remains ecologically important given its network of estuaries and coastal wetlands.

The numbers represent four days of disciplined observation, uploaded by amateurs and experienced birders and verified through the eBird platform. For researchers, the dataset provides a seasonal snapshot of winter migrants before they head north.

Campuses as urban refuges

In Visakhapatnam, GITAM (Deemed to be a University) has emerged as an active micro-habitat. Members of the Green Poet Society, a campus nature club, have documented 43 species within the university’s borders. Sightings included orange-headed thrush, black-naped oriole and Indian gray hornbill.

Harish Prakash of the Department of Life Sciences, who advises the club, observes: “Birds serve as reliable ecological markers. A count like the GBBC provides a convincing picture of how urban green spaces sustain bird diversity. Educational campuses often have more tree cover than commercial neighbourhoods, and this structural complexity supports a wider range of species.”

He also points out an absence that surprises the group. “The red-holed chickadee, which is usually common in the city, had almost no record on campus. We encountered only a single individual over four days,” he says, suggesting that even familiar species need attention when their presence dwindles.

More than 100 hotspots were covered across the district. Visakhapatnam airport wetland emerged as the leading site with 85 species. Vivek Rathod of Wildlife Conservation through Research and Education, one of the best observers in the region, noted the seasonal value of the wetland. “The airport wetland continues to host significant numbers of winter migrants. As well as resident species, we recorded Northern pintail, pochard, red-crested pochard and walleye,” he says, adding that such peri-urban wetlands quietly carry a significant ecological responsibility.

Vizianagaram’s wetland network

Participants from Vizianagaram during GBBC. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL EDITING

Vizianagaram’s tally of 141 species was taken from 23 wetlands. Durgasi Chandra Sekhar, lecturer in Zoology at SSSS Degree College and member of the East Coast Conservation Team, attributed the increase to wider participation. “More sites were surveyed this year and more checklists were presented. The increase in local participation has strengthened data coverage of the region compared to previous editions,” he says.

Northern pintail. | Photo Credit: DEEPAK KR

The checklist included winter visitors such as common, green and wood sandpipers, white and gray wagtails, citrine wagtails, lesser-ringed plovers, sandpipers and snipe. Birds of prey and songbirds, including the Eurasian kestrel, vertebrate flycatcher, black redstart, pink starling and feathered kittiwake, have been added to the season profile.

Srikakulam’s living corridor

Painted storks mating at Telineelapuram in Srikakulam district. | Photo Credit: DEEPAK KR

In Srikakulam, bird watchers are documenting a wider migration corridor stretching from the Vamsadhara estuary to PD Palem and the mouth of the Nagavali river near Kalingapatnam. While the region’s GBBC checklist is modest this year, field studies in recent months indicate significant potential.

Local birdwatcher Balaga Naveen explains the ecological range: “Srikakulam includes brackish estuaries at Naupada, PD Palem, Nagavali and Vamsadhara, as well as inland freshwater bodies such as Sylada and Vemulada lakes. Each habitat attracts a different migratory community, from Siberian ducks to shorebirds and pelagic terns.”

Species such as pied swordbill, black-bellied tern, falcon duck and pied wild horse have been recorded over a wider area. Naveen emphasizes the need for integrated thinking. “These wetlands and estuaries should be understood as an interconnected system rather than isolated birding hotspots. Recognition as ‘Important Bird Areas’ would provide a practical framework for their conservation,” he says, adding that sand mining and coastal development have negative impacts.

reading numbers

On a national scale, India’s 1,086 species during the four-day exercise reveal the country’s extraordinary bird wealth. The 519 prominent species of West Bengal highlight how habitat diversity translates into higher numbers. Andhra Pradesh’s 319 species, though lower in comparison, are a reflection of landscape diversity and increased citizen participation.

For northern Andhra, GBBC is slowly evolving from a recreational listing exercise to a civic ledger of ecological change. Data collected every February does not solve habitat loss or regulatory gaps. However, it provides a cumulative record against which future changes can be measured. In areas like Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, these records are becoming increasingly detailed.

It was published – 20 February 2026 10:32 IST