GUWAHATI: The Deepor Beel Winter Birding Festival 2025, organized by WEAVES, has recorded an increase in bird population after a sharp decline in previous years. This year’s survey documented 17,623 individual birds across 161 species, marking a recovery from 11,271 birds in 2024. However, a detailed analysis over the past three years highlights how fluctuations in water levels have directly impacted bird populations, raising concerns about habitat loss and long-term conservation.
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A comparative study of bird counts from the last three years shows a clear connection between water levels and bird presence. In 2022-23, Deepor Beel recorded:
* 1,580 birds in marshes and swamps
* 8,199 birds in shallow waters
* 10,507 birds in open grassfields
By 2023-24, these numbers dropped significantly:
* 413 birds in marshes and swamps
* 4,755 birds in shallow waters
* 4,532 birds in open grassfields
According to WEAVES, the sharp decline was largely due to human interventions, including unregulated urban development, altered drainage systems, and encroachment that disrupted Deepor Beel’s natural hydrology.
Encouragingly, the 2025 survey showed a recovery, with:
* 913 birds in marshes and swamps
* 6,894 birds in shallow waters
* 7,815 birds in open grassfields
Experts at WEAVES attribute this partial recovery to restoration efforts that allowed natural water flow back into the wetland. However, they caution that numbers have not yet returned to pre-2023 levels, signaling the urgent need for sustained conservation action.
The findings from WEAVES’ report highlight that Deepor Beel’s bird population is not sustained by deep water alone. Over the past three years, only six species were observed in deep water, while 32 species were found in marshes, swamps, and grasslands.
Two locations—Dharapur and Boragaon—which fall outside the wildlife sanctuary but within the Ramsar Site, recorded the highest bird diversity and population counts throughout the festival’s history. WEAVES stresses that conservation efforts must extend beyond the 4.1 sq km sanctuary and focus on the entire high flood zone of Deepor Beel, which serves as a critical habitat for both migratory and resident birds.
One of the key insights from WEAVES’ study is the positive impact of traditional wetland management. Areas overseen by the Deepor Beel Panchpara Samabay Samiti recorded higher bird diversity, suggesting that community-driven conservation plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the wetland.
Additionally, the report challenges the long-standing belief that community fishing is harmful to bird populations. The traditional practice of Beelmara fishing, which takes place annually, was found to have no significant negative impact on avian diversity. In fact, the highest bird counts were recorded six days after the fishing season, when human activity was still present in the wetland. WEAVES’ data suggests that traditional fishing and wetland conservation can coexist, provided they are managed sustainably.
Based on the findings from the 2025 bird count, WEAVES is calling for immediate and inclusive conservation measures, including:
* Expanding protection beyond the 4.1 sq km sanctuary to include marshes, swamps, and grasslands, which host the majority of bird species.
* Preventing further urban encroachment in high flood zones, particularly in Dharapur and Boragaon.
* Restoring Deepor Beel’s natural hydrology to ensure stable water levels and prevent further habitat loss.
Integrating local communities into wetland management through formal inclusion in the Integrated Wetland Management Committee, recognizing their role in maintaining ecological health.
The 2025 bird count by WEAVES provides a mixed picture—while the population is recovering, it remains highly vulnerable to habitat changes.
