Central Asian Flyway (CAF)
The Central Asian Flyway is one of nine global flyways for migratory waterbirds, covering a vast area from the Arctic and sub-Arctic breeding grounds in Siberia through Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent and beyond. India is the most critical wintering destination along this flyway.
- The CAF covers 30 countries and supports over 280 migratory waterbird species
- India supports 257 waterbird species, of which 81 are migratory species of CAF conservation concern (3 Critically Endangered, 6 Endangered, 13 Near Threatened)
- India provides critical stopover and wintering habitat for over 90% of bird species using this flyway
- Key Indian wetland sites along CAF: Chilika Lake (Odisha), Keoladeo Ghana (Rajasthan), Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan), Pulicat Lake (AP-Tamil Nadu), Harike Wetland (Punjab)
- India signed the CAF Action Plan in 2005; a National Action Plan for Conservation of Migratory Birds was developed
- International frameworks: Convention on Migratory Species (CMS, Bonn Convention, 1979) — India is a signatory; Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971) — India has 98 Ramsar sites as of March 2026
- Citizen science platforms like eBird contribute critical data on bird distribution and migration pattern changes
● Tracked since February 25, 2026 · last seen April 23, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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