JORAM, OCT 13:
The first-ever Keyi Panyor Bird Count was organised at Joram Putung in Joram village by the Keyi Panyor Tourism Society in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Birding Club, Bird Count India and the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), recording 38 bird species during a two-hour exercise.
The initiative aimed to promote bird conservation, raise awareness about local biodiversity and explore birdwatching as a sustainable ecotourism opportunity in the district.
The programme saw participation from Keyi Panyor Zilla Parishad Chairperson Nabam Piju, Trade Development Officer Tai Arun, Range Forest Officer Bunty Tao, Arunachal Pradesh Birding Club founder-president Koj Mama, Ngunu Ziro secretary Punyo Chada and Keyi Panyor Tourism Society event coordinator-cum-joint secretary Joram Aatum.
Resource persons from NCF included Mittal Gala, Samakshi Tiwari, Nizar Muhammed, Prerana Chandak and Leons Mathew Abraham. Students and nature enthusiasts from Government Secondary School, Joram, VKV School, Joram, and Neelam Taram Government College, Yachuli, also participated, along with panchayat members and volunteers from Hugung Trek.
The bird-counting exercise recorded 38 species in and around Joram village, including the Indian White-eye, Grey Bushchat, Dark-sided Flycatcher, White-throated Fantail, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Large-billed Crow and Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, highlighting the area’s avian diversity.
Later, NCF resource person Mittal Gala delivered a presentation at Government Secondary School, Joram, covering India’s bird diversity, distinctive bird characteristics, endangered species, bird-counting techniques and the ecological importance of birds. The interactive session familiarised participants and community members with the need to protect bird habitats and conserve biodiversity.
Certificates were distributed to participants and resource persons by the Keyi Panyor Tourism Society in recognition of their contributions.
Addressing the gathering, Koj Mama said the Arunachal Pradesh Birding Club was established in 2012 to promote birdwatching and conservation in the state. He highlighted the potential for local youth to work as trained birding guides and for homestays and other ecotourism activities to generate sustainable livelihood opportunities while supporting environmental conservation.
Punyo Chada shared the experience of organising the first Ziro Butterfly Meet in 2018, which has since continued as an annual event. Drawing on that experience, he suggested that Keyi Panyor district consider organising a dedicated Bird and Butterfly Meet to showcase its biodiversity, attract nature enthusiasts and strengthen its ecotourism potential.
Nabam Piju appreciated the organisers and resource persons for bringing participants closer to nature. Observing that the exercise had revealed numerous bird species, she said the experience challenged her earlier impression that birds were disappearing from the area. She urged people to refrain from killing birds and consuming their meat and expressed hope that the next edition would record twice as many species.
The inaugural bird count marked a step towards strengthening community participation in biodiversity conservation and exploring nature-based tourism in Keyi Panyor district. It also underscored the potential for involving students and local youth in documenting and protecting the region’s natural heritage.
