NEWS –  GBBC 2024, a four-day exercise held across different countries

• BY – Cornell University and Audubon Society
• In India , It was coordinated by Bird Count India
• AIM – pool the data from birdwatchers to monitor the status of birds
• HIGHLIGHTS
  • Saw participation of about 2,000 to 3,000 observers each day. A total of 62,287 checklists were submitted
  • India stood third in terms of the number of species observed (1,037) during the exercise as the country trailed Colombia (1,367) and Ecuador (1,129)
  • In the US, observers had made 1.72 lakh submissions, but the country stood in the 9th position when it comes to the number of species
  • As many as 204 bird species were found to be on the decline during the exercise last year with the report recommending 14 birds, including Karnataka state bird Indian Roller (Neelakanta), to be added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List as endangered

INDIAN ROLLER

• Also known as the Blue Jay or Indian Blue Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
• Vibrant and colorful bird species
• Found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Middle East
• Commonly found in a variety of habitats, including open grasslands, agricultural fields, and lightly wooded areas
• It is the state bird of the Indian states of Odisha, Telangana, and Karnataka