Behind every dot on the map is a counter contributing to the International Waterbird Census, a global effort to monitor waterbirds. Click on a location to explore their stories and see the impact of their work.
What is the International Waterbird Census?
The International Waterbird Census (IWC) is one of the world's largest and longest-running citizen science programmes.
Since 1967, tens of thousands of participants from 189 countries and territories have contributed to the effort.
The census is coordinated internationally by
Wetlands International in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America;
Birds Caribbean in the Caribbean; and
Manomet in Central America.
Why count waterbirds?
Casual birdwatching provides valuable records, but IWC counters follow standardised protocols that make the data more
consistent and reliable over time. Each year, thousands of wetlands are surveyed, providing essential insights into the
status of waterbird populations and helping guide conservation actions. IWC data has supported Red List assessments and
helped identify 1.5 million square kilometres of internationally important wetland sites, an area roughly the size of Mongolia.
How can I support the census?
If you would like to take part,
contact your coordinator to find out how to get involved. You can also support the
Waterbird Fund to help volunteers continue surveying
wetlands around the globe.
