← 30 October 2026's Current Affairs · Science & Tech GA Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆
First Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count begins
Why in News?
550+ bird species, four days, one app: the eBird citizen-science count KAS Environment aspirants should know
First KRBC, 30 Oct-2 Nov, with Bird Count India; eBird and Merlin used.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 min read
The Karnataka Forest Department, with Bird Count India, has launched the first Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count (KRBC), a four-day statewide survey from 30 October to 2 November that aims to record more than 550 bird species across habitats.
Public participants log sightings using the eBird and Merlin Bird ID apps.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- First Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count (KRBC) runs 30 October to 2 November 2026
- Organised by the Karnataka Forest Department with Bird Count India
- Aims to record more than 550 bird species across habitats statewide
- Public participants log sightings using the eBird and Merlin Bird ID apps
- Timed around Karnataka Rajyotsava (Karnataka Formation Day, 1 November)
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- Citizen-science platforms such as eBird allow members of the public to upload bird sightings that feed into shared biodiversity datasets.
- The Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count is a statewide survey conducted by the Karnataka Forest Department with Bird Count India.
- Merlin Bird ID is an app that helps users identify birds and is used alongside eBird for logging sightings.
Mains
GS-III (Environment and biodiversity); KAS Environment paper. Reliable biodiversity data is a gap in conservation planning; citizen-science counts like KRBC, backed by the Forest Department and eBird, widen coverage at low cost. Data quality, verification of records and linking results to habitat protection and policy remain the way forward.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Members of the public took part in the first Karnataka Rajyotsava Bird Count (30 October-2 November 2026) by logging sightings mainly on which citizen-science platform?
- iNaturalist
- eBird
- Bhuvan
- India Biodiversity Portal
Show answer
Answer: B — Correct: eBird — Participants log sightings on eBird, with the Merlin Bird ID app as a helper, in the survey run with Bird Count India. • iNaturalist — wrong: iNaturalist is another citizen-science platform but KRBC uses eBird. • Bhuvan — wrong: Bhuvan is ISRO's geoportal, not a bird-sighting platform. • India Biodiversity Portal — wrong: The India Biodiversity Portal collects species records, but KRBC relies on eBird.
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