Asian Waterbird Census 2023 was held between January 17-19 around hot springs of Chumathang and Puga and also other important birding sites like Tso Kar banks of Indus River in Shey and Phey villages.

The project was organised by the GoI-UNDP-GEF SECURE Himalaya Project and Department of Wildlife Protection in collaboration with Ladakh Biodiversity Council.

Representatives from conservation-oriented organizations -- GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Nature Conservation Foundation, SAVE Changthang, Snow Leopard Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club Ladakh, and WWF -- participated in the three-day long survey along with the organising team from UNDP. The waterbird census was led by Padma Gyalpo, a prolific young birder from Shey.

A total of 52 bird species were observed during the survey (11 species were sighted in Chumathang, 10 in Puga, 21 in Shey, and 10 in Phey along the Indus River). The observations were recorded on the eBird app, which is an online database of bird observations providing scientists, researchers, and amateur naturalists with real-time data about bird distribution and abundance. The total number of species recorded across all the birding sites were 35, out of which 13 species were waterbirds.

The International Waterbird Census is a monitoring programme operating in 143 countries to collect information on the numbers of waterbirds at wetland sites. India is also a part of this monitoring programme under the Asian Water Bird Census, held every year in mid-winter.