Kaziranga’s Feathered Treasures: 30 Raptors and 6 Storks Spotted in New Survey

When you wander through the mist‑laden grasslands of Kaziranga National Park, you expect to hear the trumpeting of rhinos or the rustle of elephants. Yet, this spring something else caught the ears of a team of birdwatchers – the sharp, high‑pitched cries of birds of prey soaring overhead.

Over a two‑week period, researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India, together with local birding clubs, embarked on a systematic sweep of the park’s varied habitats. Their goal? To catalog the raptors that call Kaziranga home. The result was nothing short of spectacular: thirty distinct raptor species were recorded, ranging from the regal Eastern Imperial Eagle to the modest, yet fierce, Black‑kite.

And if that wasn’t enough to make any ornithologist’s heart race, the team also logged six different stork species nesting and foraging within the park’s wetlands. Among them were the iconic Greater Adjutant, whose once‑critical numbers are now slowly climbing, and the glossy White‑stork, a visitor that occasionally graces the eastern skies during migration.

What does this mean for Kaziranga? In plain terms, it confirms that the park is more than a sanctuary for the famous one‑horned rhinoceros. It is a living laboratory where birds of prey and wading birds coexist, thriving thanks to a mix of flood‑plain grasslands, riverine forests, and an extensive network of water bodies.

But the excitement comes with a dose of reality. Some of the raptors, like the Crested Serpent Eagle, are listed as vulnerable, while the Lesser Kestrel faces pressure from habitat loss outside the park’s boundaries. Conservationists argue that protecting these feathered hunters is just as crucial as safeguarding the large mammals.

Local communities, too, have a role to play. Many villagers depend on the park’s resources and have traditionally viewed certain birds as omens or pests. Raising awareness about the ecological services these raptors provide – such as controlling rodent populations – could foster a more harmonious coexistence.

In the end, the survey serves as both a celebration and a call to action. It reminds us that even in a world where headlines often focus on megafauna, the skies above Kaziranga are bustling with life that deserves equal admiration and protection.