Godavari Estuary Hosts Asian Waterbird Census

Census event and timeline

Godavari Estuary Hosts Asian Waterbird Census: The 40th Asian Waterbird Census along with the 60th International Waterbird Census will be conducted on January 10–11, 2026. The exercise will take place at the Godavari Estuary on India’s eastern coast. The census will also cover the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh, a key coastal wetland.

This large-scale ecological monitoring effort highlights India’s growing role in migratory bird conservation. The census focuses on wintering waterbirds that depend on estuaries, mudflats, and mangroves for survival.

Organising institutions

The census at the Godavari estuary will be jointly organised by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, Bombay Natural History Society, Wildlife Institute of India, and World Wide Fund for Nature. This collaboration ensures scientific rigour and uniform data collection standards.

Local birdwatchers, researchers, and volunteers will also participate. Citizen science involvement improves coverage and strengthens long-term conservation awareness.

About the Asian Waterbird Census

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is part of the global International Waterbird Census conducted every January. It monitors the population, distribution, and trends of waterbirds across Asian wetlands.

The 2026 edition marks 40 years of AWC and 60 years of IWC, making it one of the world’s longest-running biodiversity monitoring programmes. At Coringa, this will be the 10th census, showing the site’s long-term importance for avian research.

Static GK fact: The International Waterbird Census began in 1967, making it one of the earliest coordinated wildlife monitoring initiatives.

Key migratory species in focus

The census will prioritise four important migratory waterbirds that use the Godavari estuary during winter.

The Indian Skimmer is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is known for its distinctive feeding method, skimming the water surface with its elongated lower mandible. It depends on undisturbed sandbars and estuarine habitats, many of which are declining.

The Great Knot, also Endangered, migrates from Arctic breeding grounds to Asian and Australian coasts. Loss of intertidal wetlands has caused steep global population declines, making the Godavari estuary a critical wintering site.

The Eurasian Curlew, classified as Near Threatened, is the world’s largest wader. Its declining numbers reflect habitat degradation and climate-related changes in coastal ecosystems.

The Eurasian Oystercatcher relies on shellfish-rich intertidal zones. Its population trends indicate the productivity and health of coastal food webs.

Ecological importance of the Godavari estuary

The Godavari Estuary consists of mangroves, creeks, mudflats, and sandbars. The Coringa mangroves form the second-largest mangrove ecosystem in India, after the Sundarbans.

This estuarine system provides feeding grounds, shelter, and breeding habitats for birds, fish, and crustaceans. The coexistence of Indian Skimmer and Great Knot makes it globally significant for waterbird conservation.

Static GK Tip: Mangroves act as natural buffers against cyclones and coastal erosion.

Scientific and conservation relevance

Waterbirds function as bio-indicators, reflecting the health of wetlands. Data from the census helps assess wetland degradation, identify priority conservation sites, and support long-term policy planning.

The findings also strengthen India’s commitments under global biodiversity frameworks such as the Ramsar Convention and the Convention on Migratory Species.

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