Wiki Loves Birds India is a photography campaign inspired by Wiki Loves Birds Nepal and dedicated to celebrating and documenting the remarkable avian biodiversity across India. India is home to approximately 1,350 bird species, from common local varieties to rare and migratory birds, inhabiting many ecosystems. This campaign aims to enrich Wikimedia Commons with free-licensed, high-quality images of Indian birds, creating and improving ornithology-related content in the Indian language Wikipedias. The campaign runs until 25 December 2024.
Through Wiki Loves Birds India, we seek to raise awareness about bird conservation and inspire a deeper appreciation of India’s avian biodiversity. The campaign seeks to address knowledge gaps related to ornithology across Indian language Wikipedias, enhancing access to valuable information for diverse audiences. The campaign is dedicated to the legacies of pioneering ornithologists Salim Ali and K.K. Neelakandan, whose work has been foundational in understanding and preserving India’s birdlife.
1. Uploading Images and Sounds to Wikimedia Commons
Participants are encouraged to contribute high-quality photographs and bird sounds to Wikimedia Commons. These contributions not only expand the repository of free-to-use bird media but also support scientific documentation and nature education as Citizen Science. Currently, the campaign crossed 3k media in 2 weeks of the effort.
2. Local Photo Walks
Organized photo walks inspire participants to explore local habitats, photograph birds, and hone their wildlife photography skills. These walks promote birdwatching and raise awareness about the need for conservation efforts.
3. Edit-a-thons on Wikipedia
Contributors can organize or participate in edit-a-thons to enrich ornithology-related articles on Indian language Wikipedias. This activity helps in creating comprehensive resources about the birds of India, making information more accessible to a broader audience. An outreach dashboard has been created, and more around this is happening at work.
Through Wiki Loves Birds India, we seek to raise awareness about bird conservation and inspire a deeper appreciation of India’s avian biodiversity. The campaign aims to address knowledge gaps related to ornithology across the Indian language Wikipedias, enhancing access to valuable information for diverse audiences. The campaign is dedicated to the legacies of pioneering ornithologists Salim Ali and K.K. Neelakandan, whose work has been foundational in understanding and preserving India’s birdlife.
Outstanding contributions will be recognized through a contest. If you would like more details, you can visit our Commons Campaign Page. We Thank the Wikimedia Foundation, Salim Ali Foundation, and Sahya Digital Conservation Foundation for helping organize and sponsor the prizes. If you are a seasoned birder, a budding photographer, or a passionate Wikipedian, we would like to invite you to contribute.
Manoj Karingamadathil
Project Lead, Wiki Loves Birds India 2024
Wikimedians of Kerala User Group
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