India, Jan. 7 -- More than 9,000 birds belonging to 131 species were recorded along the Yamuna floodplains over the weekend during the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), even as birders flagged a growing number of ecological threats that could undermine the area's long-term ability to support avifauna.

The count was conducted along a 22-kilometre stretch of the floodplains between the Wazirabad and Okhla barrages on January 3 and 4 as part of the AWC, which is being carried out in collaboration with the eBird project and Wetlands International. Nearly 20 birders participated in the exercise, which will continue across wetlands in the National Capital Region until January 18.

Surveyors were divided into four teams and systematically scanned t...