The third edition of the Ladakh Annual Bird Survey 2021-22 was held from September 21 to 28 under the GoI-UNDP-GEF SECURE Himalaya Project. 

Two teams comprising of 20 members each surveyed the prevalence of avifauna in the wetlands of Tsokar-Tsomoriri and Hanle-Chushul. The teams comprised of members from UNDP Secure Himalaya Team, Frontline staff of the Department of Wildlife Protection UT Ladakh (Leh and Kargil), Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh, SAVE Changthang Student Group, SECMOL, Snow Leopard Conservancy, and other volunteers.

Avi-fauna experts from Bombay Natural History Society provided technical support to the survey programme. The survey lasted 6 days in the field and many species of land and water birds were documented. 

Regional Wildlife Warden of UT Ladakh, Sajjad Mufti announced that in the coming years, the Department of Wildlife Protection will be mainstreaming the Annual Bird Survey into its routine management activities and shall expand the scope of the survey to other parts of Ladakh, such as Kargil and Nubra

The long-term monitoring of birds is critical to assessing the health of our landscapes, especially High Altitude Wetlands. Data generated from such exercised play a crucial role in informing the management of protected areas, such as the Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. SECURE Himalaya Project aims to build capacities of government and non-government stakeholders in effective management of the Changthang landscape, in a participatory manner. Birding has always been considered as a gateway for promoting and encouraging community-based conservation. Therefore, community participation, especially that of women, is central to this annual activity.