- 211 bird species recorded with great enthusiasm in 33 districts
With the aim of promoting the conservation of environment, nature and biodiversity in Chhattisgarh, a grand three-day ‘Hareli Bird Festival 2026’ was organized from 14 to 16 August 2026. Its main objective is to preserve the natural heritage and the world of birds, promote bird conservation and create new employment opportunities for local youth through eco-tourism. Under the guidance of the Forest and Climate Change Department and the leadership of Forest Minister Shri Kedar Kashyap, this event was successfully completed with extensive public participation across the state.
- A unique confluence of nature, culture and citizen science
The primary objective of the Hareli Bird Festival was not only to count birds but also to scientifically document Chhattisgarh’s bird diversity through citizen science. Held on the occasion of Chhattisgarh’s traditional folk festival, Hareli, the campaign brought together local residents, students, and nature lovers to work towards environmental conservation.
- 45 bird walks in 33 districts and over 1,000 participants
During this three-day campaign, bird watching activities were organised in all 33 districts of the state.
- More than 1,000 participants took part in the mass participation
campaign and a total of 45 ‘bird walks’ were organised across the state.
- Miscellaneous sites
Surveys were conducted in several important wetlands and forest areas including Kopra Reservoir (Ramsar site), Chichha Wetland, Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and Nandanvan Jungle Safari. A special ‘Bird Walk’ was organised for the differently-abled at Nandanvan Jungle Safari (Nava Raipur), in which they participated enthusiastically.
- 954 checklists and 211 records of bird species
Chhattisgarh’s rich bird diversity was revealed in data collected from across the state through the citizen science platform eBird. A total of 211 bird species were documented through 954 eBird Checklists over three days.
- Major bird species
Many rare and important species like Painted Stork, Red-naped Ibis, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Indian Paradise- Flycatcher and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo were sighted during the survey.
- Linkages to women’s groups and livelihoods
This campaign wasn’t limited to birdwatching, but also connected local communities and livelihoods. Held at the Adbandha pond in the Mandhar Gram Panchayat of Raipur district, the event saw the participation of women from self-help groups. The food cart operated by the Kalash Self-Help Group here exemplified the beautiful combination of local community initiative and livelihood conservation.
- Future conservation efforts will be strengthened
Based on the data obtained after this successful event, regular monitoring of important wetlands of the state, strengthening of ‘Pakshi Mitra’ network and environmental awareness activities at school and community level will be further promoted in future.