Bird Count 2025 in AMU

 Prof Satish Kumar, Prof Urus Ilyas, Dr Kaleem Ahmad and others during the AMU’s Green Campus Hosts Successful Bird Count 2025

AMU’s Green Campus Hosts Successful Bird Count 2025 as a part of GBBC initiative: “AMU is home to more than 100 bird species, making it a sanctuary for avian biodiversity"

Aligarh, February 28: The Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), organized the Campus Bird Count (CBC) 2025 as part of the global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) initiative. Held recently, the event documented AMU’s rich avian diversity, highlighting its reputation as a biodiversity haven with flourishing greenery, vibrant flowers, and diverse bird species.

With its century-old trees and seasonal blossoms the AMU campus provides a thriving habitat for numerous bird species. This year’s bird count covered six trail routes, ensuring a thorough survey of the campus’s diverse ecosystems. Students and faculty from the Department of Wildlife Sciences actively participated, contributing to global citizen science efforts and conservation research.

Dr. Kaleem Ahmed, the event coordinator and eBird India’s Honorary Uttar Pradesh State Coordinator for GBBC, highlighted that over 60 bird species were documented during the count, reaffirming AMU’s ecological significance. "The AMU campus is home to more than 100 bird species, making it a sanctuary for avian biodiversity," he stated.

Prof. Satish Kumar, Chairperson of the Department of Wildlife Sciences, praised the efforts to raise awareness and engage students in biodiversity preservation. He noted that the campus hosts diverse bird species vital for ecological balance. The common myna controls insect populations, while the house crow aids in waste management. The Indian peafowl helps in pest control, and the rose-ringed parakeet and rock pigeon support urban seed dispersal. The red-vented bulbul enhances pollination, and the Indian koel preys on caterpillars as a bio-indicator. The black drongo and jungle babbler reduce pests, while the cattle egret, often seen near grazing animals, manages insects in agricultural areas.

Adding to the event’s vibrancy, a bird painting competition was held, inspiring students to artistically interpret the beauty of AMU’s feathered inhabitants.

The Campus Bird Count not only celebrates AMU’s rich natural heritage but also exhibits university’s commitment for sustainable conservation practices.