Haryana is set to launch its first technology-driven bird census at Sultanpur National Park, deploying AI-enabled cameras and drone surveys to monitor bird movement, migration patterns, and habitat changes throughout the year. The initiative marks a shift from traditional manual counts to continuous digital surveillance.
AI-Powered Cameras at Watchtowers
The Forest Department is installing artificial intelligence-powered cameras at two strategically located watchtowers overlooking the park’s wetlands and surrounding landscape. The system is expected to become operational before the peak migratory season later this year.
Gurugram Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) RK Jangra said the watchtowers had been positioned to provide extensive coverage of both water bodies and adjoining land. “The drone surveillance will help enable a more accurate census,” he added.
Continuous Data Collection vs. Manual Counts
Unlike conventional bird censuses, which rely on manual observations conducted over a few hours or a single day, the new digital system will collect continuous data over several weeks. This approach offers a more comprehensive picture of bird populations and habitat use.
The AI platform will identify rare and threatened species, including bar-headed geese, northern pintails, and spoonbills. It will also detect early signs of habitat stress such as changes in water spread, vegetation cover, and bird-use patterns. Drone surveys will help document bird activity in areas that are difficult to access during conventional ground counts.
Long-Term Database for Climate Impact Studies
Officials said the data collected would help build a long-term database to study how climate change, shrinking wetlands, and other environmental pressures are altering migration schedules and bird distribution.
Sultanpur National Park attracts more than 250 bird species annually, including over 100 migratory species such as northern pintails, bar-headed geese, shovelers, spoonbills, storks, and several species of raptors.
Fluctuating Bird Numbers in Recent Years
Bird numbers have fluctuated over the past few years. The 2025 Asian Waterbird Census recorded 2,593 migratory birds across 48 species, compared with 2,686 birds representing 43 species in 2024. In 2023, the census had documented 6,036 birds across 61 species.
Beginning in October, the AI-based census will monitor annual changes in bird populations and species composition, enabling authorities to make informed decisions on water management, vegetation control, and visitor movement inside the park.
Concerns Over Changing Migration Patterns
The initiative comes amid growing concern over changing migration patterns linked to delayed monsoons, warmer winters, shrinking wetlands, and increasing human disturbance across north India.
Bird expert Pankaj Gupta, who led this year’s Big Bird Day count at Sultanpur, welcomed the initiative but said the monitoring network should be expanded beyond the park. “The data is a good initiative, but it needs to be expanded to Chandu as well, to understand migration patterns more precisely. Technology can help authorities respond before it’s too late. It will be helpful to birders if the department can share live-streaming — if we can get access, we can also analyse migration patterns and other issues,” he said.
