BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – The Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) hosted the citizen science programme ‘IBER’s Asian Waterbird Census’ from 13th to 15th January 2026.
The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is part of the global International Waterbird Census (IWC), one of the world’s largest and longest-running biodiversity monitoring programmes, engaging volunteers and local communities in counting migratory waterbirds. 2026 is a special year as AWC and IWC celebrate their 40th and 60th year, respectively.
“Many species congregate in significant numbers at wetlands during January and February, providing an important opportunity to monitor population sizes, trends, and distribution changes, as well as to identify key habitats,” said Dr Salwa Khalid, Coordinator of the programme.
The programme brought together a diverse group of participants, including government officials, conservation organisations, researchers, bird enthusiasts, and volunteers, all united in their commitment to waterbird monitoring.
Over the three-day event, participants engaged in a combination of lectures and practical training, including field exercises on waterbird identification, counting techniques, and the use of ‘eBird’. eBird is a free mobile application, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, used for recording bird observations.
The field sessions were conducted at the Wasan paddy fields, one of Brunei Darussalam’s seven designated Important Bird Areas (IBAs). IBAs are sites identified as being internationally significant for the conservation of birds and other biodiversity, based on a set of standardised, data-driven criteria. The other locations in Brunei Darussalam include Belait peat swamps, Tasek Merimbun, Brunei Bay, Ulu Temburong, Ladan Hills, and Seria Coast.
IBER remains committed to supporting this long-standing regional and international conservation initiative, ensuring the long-term health of wetland ecosystems and migratory bird populations. The programme also reflects IBER’s dedication to capacity building, knowledge sharing, and strengthening partnerships in biodiversity conservation.