Bengal Leads India in Bird Count for Third Consecutive Year

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is one of the largest global birding events, where birdwatchers from around the world participate in counting species. This year, Bengal once again led the country in bird species recorded, marking its third consecutive victory in the event. Conducted between February 14 and 17, 2025, the exercise saw birdwatchers across India document 1,068 species. Bengal topped the list with 543 species observed, a testament to the state’s rich bird diversity and active birdwatching community.

The GBBC 2025 saw fewer participants than the previous year, primarily due to timing conflicts with exams. Despite this, Bengal continued to shine in both species diversity and the number of birdwatchers contributing to the event. Key sightings included rare species like the Ibisbill and Common Starling. The state’s performance demonstrates its significance in India’s birdwatching culture and highlights ongoing efforts to preserve bird habitats.

Key Findings

• Bengal recorded the highest number of species for the third consecutive year in the GBBC.
• A total of 543 species were spotted in Bengal out of 1,068 species across India.
• The number of uploaded checklists from Bengal was 1,909, a decrease from 2,223 in 2024.
• Darjeeling topped Bengal’s species count with 252 species observed, although this was lower than 2024’s 308.
• South 24 Parganas had the most checklists in Bengal with 513 entries.
• Notable bird sightings included the Ibisbill in Jhalong (North Bengal), Spotted Crake in Baruipur, and Common Starling in Malda.

Watch: Daily Current Affairs

Participation and Observations

• The GBBC started in 1998, with India participating since 2013.
• In 2025, over 5,300 participants joined, including 344 from Bengal.
• Baharuddin Sk emerged as the top observer with 310 species observed, while Santanu Manna uploaded the most checklists (112).

Top States

• 1. Bengal – 543 Species Count
• 2. Uttarakhand – 446 Species Count
• 3. Assam – 414 Species Count
• 4. Maharashtra – 414 Species Count
• 5. Karnataka – 380 Species Count