Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts spotted a new avian guest at the National Zoological Park (NZP) here today during the 21st edition of the ‘Sunday Bird Walk @ NZP’. Held from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM, the morning trail brought citizens directly into wildlife conservation and biodiversity monitoring.
Guided by bird expert Vineet Kumar alongside zoo officials and volunteers, a group of students, wildlife photographers, and nature lovers documented 42 bird species and recorded over 600 individual sightings across the designated trail. The standout moment of the walk was the spotting of the Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), marking a significant new addition to the zoo’s official bird checklist and underscoring the value of citizen science in tracking avian diversity.
Beyond spotting birds, the session served as an interactive field classroom. Kumar walked participants through practical bird identification techniques and shared insights into avian ecology and behaviour, emphasizing how birds act as vital indicators of ecosystem health and provide natural pest control.
To keep the sessions immersive and focused, each Sunday Bird Walk is capped at 20–25 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Registrations remain open from Monday to Friday every week via the official National Zoological Park website and the NZP Saathi mobile app.
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