Bombay Natural History Society marks 143rd Foundation Day with focus on Central Asian Flyway and migratory birds

The Bombay Natural History Society BNHS marked its 143rd Foundation Day at Hornbill House in Mumbai with a programme highlighting its conservation and research efforts for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway CAFThe event brought together BNHS scientists researchers students and members with presentations focusing on the organisations work across wetlands grasslands riverine ecosystems coastal habitats and highaltitude landscapes that support millions of migratory birdsFocus on Indian Skimmer conservationBNHS highlighted its longterm work on the Indian Skimmer a priority species under the Central Asian Flyway The organisation has been monitoring the species in the Chambal and Mahanadi river systems and is now expanding its conservation and research efforts to multiple sites along the Ganga with support from the National Mission for Clean Ganga NMCGBNHS also said it plans to strengthen collaboration with researchers in Bangladesh to improve monitoring of Indian Skimmers across their range and study their population dynamics and movementsAmur Falcon Pallass Fish Eagle among focus speciesThe conservation of migratory raptors was another key focus of the programmeSince 2017 BNHS has been working with local communities and the Nagaland government to prevent Amur Falcon poaching in Wokha district particularly around the Doyang Reservoir an important stopover site for the species during its migration to AfricaThe organisation has supported awareness programmes education initiatives and livelihood interventions aimed at strengthening community participation in wildlife protectionBNHS is also studying the breeding population habitat use and threats faced by Pallass Fish Eagle in Assam including in Kaziranga Manas and Orang National Parks Satellitetagging of two eagles previously helped researchers track their migration routesCurrent research is examining breeding success feeding ecology and threats including pesticide exposure and electrocutionBNHS tracks threatened waterbirds and wetlandsThe organisation also highlighted its work on the critically endangered Whitebellied Heron with researchers recording the species in Sikkim and Arunachal PradeshBNHS is part of a regional transboundary advisory working group that provides technical and strategic inputs on conservation activities and project implementation along the Central Asian FlywayThe organisation currently monitors 48 priority wetlands under Indias National Action Plan and has provided management and restoration recommendations for 23 of themIt has also prepared speciesspecific conservation action plans for 20 priority waterbird species and submitted them to the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change for implementationMore than a century of bird records being digitisedThe Foundation Day programme also featured presentations by the BNHS Library Publications and Collections departments on the digitisation of more than a century of birdringing records correspondence field registers and historical literatureAccording to BNHS the archival material could help researchers study changes in bird migration patterns climate and species distribution while making its ornithological records more accessible to researchers and conservationistsBNHS stresses need to tackle illegal wildlife tradeThe organisation also highlighted its role in supporting agencies involved in tackling illegal wildlife tradeBNHS provides scientific expertise species identification technical guidance and capacitybuilding support to enforcement agencies involved in wildlife crime investigationsThe programme concluded with discussions on strengthening coordination between BNHS Customs forest officials and police to curb the illegal trade in birds and other wildlifeThe Foundation Day celebrations ended with a panel discussion on the future of the Central Asian Flyway with speakers stressing the need for collaboration between governments research institutions local communities and citizen scientists to protect migratory birds and their habitats