Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Monday hailed the first confirmed sighting of the rare Pin-tailed Parrotfinch in the state, describing it as a major addition to Arunachal Pradesh’s biodiversity records.
The bird was spotted inside Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve in Changlang district, marking what is being considered the first documented record of the species in Arunachal Pradesh and possibly only the second in the country.
Mein said the observation highlighted the ecological richness of the state and underlined the conservation value of protected areas such as Namdapha.
In a post on X, the deputy chief minister said the sighting was a matter of pride for the conservation community and reflected the extraordinary avian diversity found in the northeastern region.
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The rare flock of Pin-tailed Parrotfinch (Erythrura prasina) was sighted on January 6 by a group of birdwatchers — Binanda Hatibaruah, Lt Gen Bhupesh Goyal, Mistu Basu and Vinod Gupta.
According to field notes, the birds were observed feeding on bamboo flowers at the 62 Mile area along the Miao–Vijaynagar road and stayed in the vicinity for about half an hour before flying off.
Mein congratulated the birders and local guides for their careful observation and documentation, saying such discoveries reinforce the need for sustained conservation efforts, scientific research and responsible eco-tourism in Arunachal Pradesh.
