“Compared to last season, the planning and participation have improved significantly. Everything is running smoother,” said project coordinator and birdwatcher Sriram Reddy.
Over 130 volunteers, including children, senior citizens, women and professionals, are taking part. Teams usually have two to five members, though hotspots like KBR Park have drawn up to 20 participants in a single session. Around 30 to 40 teams fan out across the city on weekends, covering nearly 50 locations a day, while weekdays see six to seven areas surveyed.
Among the 140 species spotted so far, the Slaty-breasted Rail has caused excitement, marking what could be its first official sighting within Hyderabad city limits. The bird, typically found in wetlands and paddy fields, was seen near Chiryala, off the ECIL-Keesara road, close to the Outer Ring Road, where few open spaces remain.
The Slaty-breasted Rail, a shy resident species in Telangana, is rarely seen in urban areas due to habitat loss. Known for its secretive nature and tendency to vanish at the slightest human presence, it feeds on insects, worms, spiders and seeds. The observer said it was spotted from a distance.
The atlas had recorded 195 species last season. With 10 new additions so far, the list has grown to 205.
One of the active volunteers is 58-year-old K.V. Praveen Kumar, a retired botanist and horticulture consultant. “I wake up at 4.30 am and join the walks by 6.15. These surveys go beyond birdwatching—they reconnect people with nature and highlight how deeply our actions affect biodiversity,” he said.
Sri Teja, 29, who works at a private company, is another regular participant. “I manage both work and birding. Weekends are for birdwatching. I got into wildlife photography in 2020 during the lockdown, when I began photographing birds from home. That’s how I found Hyderabad Birding Pals and started joining their walks,” he said.
He added, “Spotting birds and observing their behaviour reminds me of my childhood love for Pokémon—always searching for new creatures. Now I do that in real life with cousins and friends. On Wednesday morning, I spotted the Slaty-breasted Rail—seen in other states but very rare in Hyderabad.”
