Kaziranga National Park’s First Grassland Bird Survey Report Released

GS3 – Environment

Context

On July 15, 2025, Kaziranga National Park published its inaugural Grassland Bird Survey Report, a milestone in conserving grassland-dependent avian species across the Brahmaputra floodplains.

Survey Highlights (March 18 – May 25, 2025)

• Species Identified: 43 grassland bird species across Kaziranga’s three wildlife divisions—Eastern Assam, Biswanath, and Nagaon.

Threatened Species Recorded

• Critically Endangered: Bengal Florican
• Endangered: Finn’s Weaver, Swamp Grass Babbler
• Vulnerable (6 species):
  • Black-breasted Parrotbill
  • Marsh Babbler
  • Swamp Francolin
  • Jerdon’s Babbler
  • Slender-billed Babbler
  • Bristled Grassbird
• Significant Discovery: A breeding colony of Finn’s Weaver—a master nest-builder and key ecological indicator—was discovered in the Kohora Range.

About Kaziranga National Park

• Location: Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot; traversed by the Brahmaputra River.
• UNESCO Status: World Heritage Site.
• Bird Importance: Recognised as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
• Vegetation: Includes alluvial grasslands, savanna woodlands, tropical moist deciduous, and semi-evergreen forests.
• Major Flora: Spear grass, elephant grass, common reed, cotton tree, elephant apple.
• Key Fauna (Big Five):
  • One-Horned Rhinoceros (VU)
  • Royal Bengal Tiger
  • Asian Elephant
  • Wild Water Buffalo (EN)
  • Swamp Deer