Ziro Bird Walk: Rare red-collared dove among 15 species recorded

Birdwatchers recorded 15 species during the 35th Ziro Bird Walk in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Subansiri district, with an unusual high-altitude sighting of a red-collared dove standing out, according to a report issued by the district information and public relations office on Saturday.

The autumn edition of the walk was held on the Pigey Aji traditional farmland in Ziro Valley, an area that draws large numbers of migratory birds when the seasons change, The Times of India reported, citing the official report.

A dove out of place

The red-collared dove is usually a bird of the plains and low hills, so finding one at Ziro's elevation was described as unusual by birding guides and researchers on the walk. Ziro Valley sits at roughly 1,500 metres above sea level.

The small dove, with the male's wine-red body and black half-collar, is common across much of the Indian lowlands but is rarely reported from high valleys in Arunachal.

Other species spotted during the walk included the northern lapwing, the Pacific golden plover, the Himalayan buzzard and the Eurasian sparrowhawk. The lapwing and the plover are migrants that pass through or winter in the region, which makes the valley's wet rice fields an important stopover.

A community effort

The Ziro Bird Walk was started by wildlife enthusiast Koj Mama along with other nature lovers, and has grown into a community-driven initiative to promote bird conservation and awareness of the valley's ecology.

This edition brought together local conservationists, nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers. It was supported by the Arunachal Pradesh Environment and Forest Department, Arunachal Tourism, the Department of Information and Public Relations, the Arunachal Pradesh Birding Club and local partners.

Organisers said the walks were strengthening community participation in conservation and drawing attention to Ziro Valley as a habitat for both resident and migratory birds. They hoped more residents, especially younger people, would take up birdwatching.

Why Ziro matters

Ziro Valley is home to the Apatani people, whose integrated paddy-cum-fish farming on the valley floor has been widely studied as a sustainable land-use system and has been put forward for UNESCO World Heritage recognition. The same wet fields and surrounding pine and bamboo groves give birds food and shelter through the year, which is why regular counts like the bird walk help track changes in the valley's wildlife.