Guwahati: Assam has got its first-ever digital bird repository, a platform dedicated to documenting the state’s rich avian diversity.The initiative, ‘Pokkhi’, developed by wildlife photographer Chirantanu Saikia and PhD scholar at Tezpur University Abhilash Gayan, features detailed profiles of 376 resident and migratory bird species, complete with high-quality photographs, identification guides, IUCN conservation status, and Assamese and English names.Commending the work of the youths, forest and environment minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said that a unique feature of the platform is its effort to preserve Assam’s linguistic heritage alongside its ecological wealth.Currently, Pokkhi features curated Assamese and English common names of 376 bird species, along with high-quality photographs, IUCN conservation status, species descriptions and identification guides. It aims to become a comprehensive repository of Assamese bird nomenclature, addressing the limited availability of local bird names while promoting awareness of Assam’s birdlife.Of the 376, 26 have been tagged as near threatened, 13 as vulnerable, six as endangered and eight as critically endangered. The remaining 323 have been tagged as least concern.Explaining the initiative, Saikia said the idea emerged from difficulties they faced in finding reliable Assamese names for many bird species during fieldwork. He noted that local names often vary across different parts of Assam and can sometimes be disputed. ‘Pokkhi’ aims to bring together such variations through contributions from the public and the birding community, creating a trusted, one-stop reference platform.Drawing on years of field experience and wildlife exploration, the platform was developed as a resource for educators, students, researchers, conservationists, bird enthusiasts and the wider public.Meanwhile, the forest minister, in a post on X, wrote, “As we continue to celebrate and conserve Assam’s extraordinary natural heritage, initiatives like ‘Pokkhi’ are helping bridge conservation, education and technology. By making information on the state’s birdlife freely accessible, we are encouraging greater awareness among students, researchers, birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts while fostering a deeper appreciation of Assam’s remarkable biodiversity.”He further stated that a unique feature of the platform is its effort to preserve Assam’s linguistic heritage alongside its ecological wealth. “The repository invites birdwatchers, researchers and the general public to contribute regional variations of Assamese bird names, creating a collaborative knowledge base that reflects the state’s rich cultural and biological diversity,” he added.The minister further said that, built on years of field experience and wildlife documentation, the bilingual platform serves as a valuable resource for educators, conservationists and nature lovers.
