Three-day citizen science campaign draws over 1,000 participants through 45 bird walks across all 33 districts; rare and significant species documented
TFP Bureau, Raipur, August 18, 2026: The three-day Hareli Bird Festival 2026, organised across Chhattisgarh from August 14 to 16, concluded successfully with enthusiastic participation from nature lovers, students, local communities and bird enthusiasts. The festival, organised under the guidance of the Forest and Climate Change Department and the leadership of Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, aimed to promote biodiversity conservation, environmental awareness and eco-tourism-based livelihood opportunities for local communities and youth.
The festival was held as part of the traditional Hareli celebrations and sought to combine Chhattisgarh’s cultural heritage with nature conservation and citizen participation. Rather than limiting the exercise to bird counting, the campaign focused on scientifically documenting the state’s avian diversity through the citizen science approach.
45 bird walks held across 33 districts
Bird-watching activities were conducted in all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh during the three-day campaign. More than 1,000 people participated in 45 bird walks organised at wetlands, forests, wildlife areas and other important habitats.
Among the prominent locations surveyed were Kopra Reservoir, a Ramsar site, Chhichha Wetland, Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and Nandanvan Jungle Safari in Nava Raipur.
A special bird walk was also organised for persons with disabilities at Nandanvan Jungle Safari, enabling them to participate in the conservation and nature-awareness initiative.
211 species recorded through 954 eBird checklists
The citizen science initiative generated substantial data on Chhattisgarh’s bird population. Participants uploaded their observations on the eBird platform, resulting in 954 checklists and the documentation of 211 bird species during the three-day festival.
Several notable species were recorded during the exercise, including the Painted Stork, Red-naped Ibis, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Indian Paradise-Flycatcher and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo.
The data generated through the campaign is expected to provide valuable inputs for understanding bird diversity and strengthening future conservation measures in the state.
Community participation linked with livelihood opportunities
The festival also placed emphasis on involving local communities and creating livelihood opportunities alongside conservation.
Women members of self-help groups participated in an event at Adbandha Pond in Mandhar Gram Panchayat of Raipur district. A food cart operated by the Kalash Self-Help Group provided an example of how community-based livelihood activities can be integrated with nature tourism and conservation initiatives.
Focus on long-term conservation
Based on the findings and participation generated during the festival, the Forest Department plans to strengthen regular monitoring of important wetlands across the state. The initiative will also focus on expanding the Pakshi Mitra (Bird Friend) network and increasing environmental awareness programmes in schools and local communities.
The successful conclusion of the Hareli Bird Festival has highlighted Chhattisgarh’s rich avian diversity while demonstrating how citizen participation, conservation and eco-tourism can work together to support the state’s environmental and livelihood goals.
