India, Jan. 13 -- Over 15,000 birds were recorded at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary and over 6,000 at the Surajpur wetlands as part of the ongoing Asian Waterbird Census (AWC). The census is being conducted across Delhi-NCR till January 18, officials said.

The annual census, carried out in coordination with Wetlands International South Asia, is being conducted alongside the eBird platform for the first time this year. While the numbers recorded at the two wetlands were significant, birders flagged multiple local threats, including pollution and human disturbances.

At Okhla Bird Sanctuary, five teams, comprising around 30 birders, recorded 101 species, counting over 15,500 birds. They spotted around 9,000 ducks and coots, 1,275 black-headed an...