In Sangareddy, Hyderabad’s bird lovers and local birding communities have come together to create the city’s first-ever Hyderabad City Bird Atlas (HBA). Inspired by cities like Coimbatore, Mysore, and Pune, which already have similar bird atlases, as well as the state-wide bird atlases of Kerala and Goa, Hyderabad’s birding groups aim to systematically document bird species across the region.
This survey will encompass 11% of the area within the Outer Ring Road (ORR), cataloging bird populations across diverse habitats such as woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, natural open spaces, and urban landscapes. Survey locations will be selected randomly to ensure comprehensive data on the city’s avian diversity.
The Hyderabad Bird Atlas (HBA) project is being spearheaded by Hyderabad Birding Pals (HBP) and Deccan Birders, with anticipated support from additional organizations like the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). Voluntary registration for participation opened on Wednesday, drawing a strong response of over 100 sign-ups on day one. The HBA team estimates participation to reach between 300 to 500 individuals. The survey will be conducted biannually—in February during winter and in July post-summer—with the first survey scheduled for February 2025 across 180 designated sub-cells.
Project members emphasize the need for State government support to facilitate the work, requesting access to public areas such as parks, reserve forests, educational institutions, and corporate and residential campuses. A consistent survey over the next three to five years aims to establish a reliable bird atlas for Hyderabad, which would serve as a critical resource for scientists, conservationists, and policymakers. The atlas would help monitor bird populations, assess habitat importance, and guide conservation planning.
According to Sriram Reddy, a key figure in the HBA project, this atlas not only promotes biodiversity awareness and birdwatching but also enhances Hyderabad’s brand as a city committed to environmental stewardship.
