An avifaunal inventory of the Kazinag National Park and adjoining areas: Conservation implications

The present study was undertaken in Kazinag National Park – an important protected area in the Northwestern Himalayan region of India – from March 2023 to February 2024, to compile a comprehensive avifaunal inventory of the park. Field surveys were systematically carried out during early morning and late afternoon hours, coinciding with peak bird activity. Birds were identified following standard field guides, expert consultations, and online sources. A total of 127 bird species, distributed across 10 orders and 35 families were documented, many of which are of conservation concern. The family Muscicapidae exhibited the highest representation of 19 species, followed by Corvidae with 11 species. The high avian diversity observed in the park can be attributed to its diverse habitat types, ranging from mixed forests, coniferous forests to riverine areas and alpine meadows. Of the 127 species recorded, four are listed as ‘Threatened’ by the IUCN (Western Tragopan Tragopan melanocephalus, Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii, Mountain Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis and Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus). Increasing urbanisation and human encroachment into the park pose significant threats to the survival of key avian species. Illegal hunting, particularly of pheasants, warrants urgent conservation attention.