Sun Jan 26 17:28:20 UTC 2025: ## Sundarbans Bird Festival Records Over 31,000 Birds
**Kolkata, January 27, 2025** – The third annual Sundarbans Bird Festival concluded, revealing a significant increase in bird sightings compared to previous years. Over six days (January 22-26), forty birders from six teams recorded a remarkable 31,926 birds representing 154 species.
This year’s count surpasses previous festivals: 5,065 birds of 145 species in 2023 and 8,886 birds of 135 species in 2024. The increase highlights the rich biodiversity of the Sundarbans, a 4,000 sq. km mangrove forest also home to a significant tiger population.
The survey detailed the distribution of birds across different zones: approximately 100 species were found in the core area of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve, 90 in the buffer zone, and 129 outside the protected area. Specific locations showed varying counts, with Matla forests recording the highest number of species (108) and Sajnekhali the lowest (64).
The species count included 51 migratory and 103 resident birds, categorized further into waders (45 species), raptors (8 species), forest birds (91 species), waterfowls (3 species), and other birds (7 species). Importantly, the festival also documented 12 species of threatened birds, including the Eurasian Curlew and several kingfisher species.
Officials from the Sundarban Tiger Reserve plan to cross-reference the findings with global bird databases to further enhance understanding of the region’s avifauna. The festival underscores the ongoing efforts to promote awareness and conservation of the Sundarbans’ unique ecosystem.
First Piper 