Great Backyard Bird Count 2026: North Coastal Andhra posts strong species tally

Great Backyard Bird Count 2026: Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam log strong species numbers in Andhra Pradesh

The mid-February ritual of observing birds from balconies, campuses, wetlands and village tanks has steadily grown into one of the country’s most reliable citizen science exercises. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), coordinated globally by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and partners, has seen Indian participation since it expanded worldwide in 2013.

The 2026 edition documented 1087 species, with India finishing second globally. Within the national canvas, Andhra Pradesh offered a revealing cross-section of habitats, from the dry tracts of Rayalaseema to the estuaries of north coastal districts. The State ranked 12th in overall species count with 319 species. West Bengal led the national tally with 519 species, reflecting its mosaic of Himalayan foothills, Gangetic plains and coastal wetlands.

District-wise data underscores how geography shapes the checklist. Chittoor topped the State with 203 species, followed by Anantapur with 165. In north Andhra, Vizianagaram secured sixth position with 141 species, while Visakhapatnam, with 133 species, ranked ninth. Srikakulam, though lower on the formal leaderboard this year, remains ecologically significant given its network of estuaries and coastal wetlands.

The numbers represent four days of disciplined observation, uploaded by amateurs and experienced birders alike and verified through the eBird platform. For researchers, the dataset provides a seasonal snapshot of winter migrants before their northward departure.

Participants from Green Poet Society of GITAM (deemed to be university) during GBBC in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

In Visakhapatnam, GITAM (Deemed to be University) stood out as an active microhabitat. Members of the Green Poet Society, a campus Nature club, documented 43 species within the university grounds. Among the sightings were the orange-headed thrush, black-naped oriole and Indian grey hornbill.