At daybreak in Sindhudurg, the air carries a soft chorus — the distant call of a hornbill, the chatter of barbets, the sudden flutter of wings rising from mist-covered wetlands. The Western Ghats descend gently here into the Arabian Sea, shaping a landscape where forests, plateaus, lakes, and coastlines meet. For those who know where to look — and listen — this quiet district reveals a spectacle that is anything but ordinary.

In the lush embrace of Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, a quiet revolution unfolded during the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2025. Over three days in mid-February, citizen birders shattered records, documenting between 315 and 428 bird species — figures that vary slightly across reports but unanimously crown Sindhudurg as the state’s top district, far ahead of Pune’s 248.

The 2026 count concluded in March, and its report is eagerly awaited.

From lone enthusiasts to a movement

What began as a handful of solitary birdwatchers just a few years ago has grown into a collective of 40 dedicated observers, covering all eight talukas through meticulous surveys. This achievement is not just about numbers on an eBird checklist; it reflects how citizen science can transform an underrated Konkan hotspot into a national beacon — especially at a time when urban sprawl dominates much of the state.

Early GBBC years saw minimal participation. But sustained effort has built a thriving community that measures success not only by rising species counts — which naturally increase with more observers — but by the number of new participants and the reliability of data.

As birder Sachin Prabhu noted, “A total of 40 participants took part in this event,” covering Western Ghats locations such as Tilari, Talkat, Khadpade Ghat, Amboli Ghat, Mangleli, and Banda. Their work highlights Sindhudurg’s........

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