India Is Home To World's Largest Number Of Bird Species

BANGALORE: India, a country known for its rich flora and fauna, emerges as a nation that houses largest number of bird species in the world, as per the preliminary findings of a recent global event—Great Backyard Bird Count. With 765 species, India tops among the list of 127 countries that sent their entries through pictures and videos, reports Vishwa Mohan of TNN. 

The GBBC initiated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society in the U.S. involved thousands of birdwatchers across the globe watching and counting birds, making it the largest global event of this kind.

The participants counted birds in their locality from February mid week and record the numbers online, contributing to one of the biggest citizen’s science projects ever. The event gives the common man a platform to lend scientists a hand at studying birds.

The report exclaimed, 'Want to see a wide variety of birds? Head to India, ' reports TNN, "India's emergence as a bird-watching hot spot underscores the rising worldwide popularity of the pastime."

Though such event has been going on since 1998, it was in 2013 where the first ever global bird count was organized with participants from 110 countries sending their entries during February 15-18 in that year.

Last year, India submitted 467 checklists, making it as the third highest contributor after the U.S. (1, 20,919) and Canada (12,599). The country came third in the list of number of species spotted — 544. Mexico recorded the maximum number of species with 645, while the U.S. recorded 638.

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