Nagaland hosted the first edition of the Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC) from November 4 to 7, 2022.
What is TEBC?
- Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC) is a four-day documentation event that sought to list birds in Nagaland.
- It was organized in collaboration with the Wokha Forest Division and the Divisional Management Unit, Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP), Wokha, and Bird Count India.
- The event was held on the occasion of Tokhü Emong – a post-harvest festival of the Lotha Nagas.
- The dates of the TEBC coincides BNHS Salim Ali Bird Count – a national level bird count event.
What are the key features of the event?
Besides documentation of bird species, the event also includes bird walks, online sessions, and talks about birds for enthusiasts, school, and college students. During the event, birdwatchers and enthusiasts took part in the bird count by observing and listing different species.
While it is organized in Nagaland, those living in other parts of India outside the state can also take part in this event by observing and counting birds and upload the list in the bird-recording platform – eBird.
What is the objective of the TEBC?
The Tokhü Emong Bird Count (TEBC) seeks to highlight the diversity of bird species in Nagaland and bring to attention the threatened habitats in the state.
It encourages community to observe the bird species, enabling people to connect with nature and help document the rich and diverse population of avifauna.
What is Tokhü Emong?
Tokhü Emong is a harvest festival celebrated by Lotha Nagas – a major Naga ethnic group native to Wokha District in Nagaland. This 9-day fall festival celebrates the end of the harvest season. It is celebrated during the first week of November each year. The term “Tokhü” means feast (eating food or drinking) and the term “Emong” means the Halt on the appointed time.