Bird Survey of the Vazhachal Forest Division-2026, Western Ghats, Kerala, India

This paper details the findings of a systematic three-day avian survey conducted from February 13 to 15, 2026, in the Vazhachal Forest Division, a critical biodiversity stronghold within the Western Ghats. A collaborative initiative between the Kerala Forest Department and the Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation (WGHF), the study employed a rigorous field methodology involving 75 participants, including professional ornithologists and indigenous Kadar watchers. Across 40 systematic transects covering diverse ecological gradients—ranging from low-elevation riparian corridors to high-elevation sub-montane primary evergreen and moist deciduous forests—the survey recorded 198 bird species. This effort increased the division’s cumulative species count to 225. Significant findings include the documentation of 23 Indian endemics and 17 species exclusive to the Western Ghats, with notable sightings of the Wayanad Laughingthrush and Sri Lankan Frogmouth. The data confirms the region as a vital "Hornbill Stronghold," with over 33 individual Great Hornbill observations across 23 transects. Furthermore, the recording of active nesting sites for the Great, Malabar Pied, and Malabar Grey Hornbills serves as a primary bio-indicator of a healthy, intact forest canopy. The study highlights the indispensable role of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK) in biodiversity monitoring and suggests that the late presence of seasonal migrants may indicate shifting environmental patterns linked to climate change. These results provide a vital scientific baseline for the continued conservation of tropical evergreen ecosystems and the integration of community-based management in the Western Ghats.