Bird mission reach Rohru records 70 Bird species on the Baghi Gawas Trek to Rohru
ROHRU/SHIMLA: Continuing its bird watching mission in the Shimla region to care for depleting winged creatures and their soul-stirring songs, the Rohru Forest Division on Friday launched its first-ever large-scale scientific bird survey to document the region’s rich avian diversity and create baseline ecological data for future conservation efforts.
The ambitious survey, formally rolled out across multiple forest ranges of Rohru Forest Division in Shimla district, aims to scientifically assess bird diversity and strengthen long-term biodiversity monitoring, habitat management and conservation planning in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Forest officials, frontline staff and bird experts have joined hands for the extensive exercise, with separate survey teams deployed in different forest ranges. The initiative marks the first systematic bird survey of such scale undertaken by the division.
On the opening day, a survey team led by noted naturalist and bird expert Ankush Thakur trekked nearly 10 kilometres from Baggi to Gawas along with forest officials and field staff.
The team included Block Officer Chaman Lal, Deputy Ranger Prabha Devi, Forest Guard Suresh Kumar, and Van Mitras Rahul, Pankaj and Simran.
The surveyors recorded nearly 70 bird species during the trek, underlining the rich bird diversity of the region. According to available eBird records, several rare and notable species were sighted, including Brown Bullfinch, Black-and-Yellow Grosbeak, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker and Lesser Cuckoo. Experts consider the presence of these species a strong indicator of a healthy forest ecosystem and the high biodiversity value of the Rohru landscape.
Speaking on the occasion, Ankush Thakur said the first survey expedition turned out to be highly successful due to excellent habitat conditions and remarkable bird diversity encountered along the route. He said scientific biodiversity documentation was crucial for understanding ecosystem health and would also help promote responsible eco-tourism activities in future.
Divisional Forest Officer N. Ravishankar said the survey had been initiated to prepare comprehensive baseline data on bird diversity in the region. He said the findings would serve as an important scientific reference for future biodiversity studies, habitat management and long-term ecological monitoring in the division.
The survey will continue over the coming days across different habitats and altitudinal zones of the Rohru Forest Division, as officials attempt to map the hidden world of Himalayan birds before their melodies fade into silence.
