In News:

The first dedicated Grassland Bird Census was conducted in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, marking a significant step in avian biodiversity monitoring in India. The initiative was widely acknowledged, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat broadcast, for its innovative use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and acoustic monitoring.

Objective and Significance

• Purpose: To systematically monitor the population, breeding patterns, and habitat health of grassland-dwelling bird species, many of which are rare or threatened.
• Conservation Value: Grassland birds serve as ecological indicators of habitat quality, akin to how BMI reflects human health.
• Highlight Species:
  • Documented 43 bird species
  • Included 1 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, and 6 Vulnerable species (IUCN Red List)
  • Notably, over 85 nests of the endangered Finn’s Weaver, endemic to the Brahmaputra floodplains, were discovered.

Methodology & Technological Innovations

• Conducted By: Joint effort of forest officials, Kaziranga National Park authorities, conservationists, and researchers including INSPIRE fellow Chiranjib Bora.
• Sites Covered: 185 grassland locations across the national park.
• Tools Used:
  • Passive Acoustic Monitoring: Audio recorders placed atop trees to capture bird calls during the breeding season.
  • AI Integration:
    • BirdNET Software used to automatically identify bird species by analyzing vocalizations.
    • Spectrograms enabled visual analysis of sound frequencies for accurate classification.

Key Innovations and Impact

• First of its Kind: India’s first census focused exclusively on grassland bird species, often overlooked in standard bird surveys.
• Non-Intrusive Monitoring: AI-powered audio analysis allowed species identification without disturbing natural behavior.
• Awareness & Biodiversity Education: The census is a powerful example of how technology and sensitivity can together enhance biodiversity understanding and conservation awareness.