The 4^th annual Nationwide Water-birds census was conducted  on 22^nd January 2017 by many bird enthusiasts. This years' annual Water-birds census saw many participants outside of usual DoFPS field staff. The survey was carried out in all the major water bodies and wetlands across the country.

The annual census for the Water-birds was initiated by the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment in 2014 with the objective to generate data from all the major rivers and wetlands for long term monitoring of habitat change and species response to the climate change. This initiative will also contribute and represent ourselves in understanding and sharing data with International Wetlands as Bhutan being one of the flyway corridors for the migratory birds in the Himalayan region.

The census captured different species of water-birds including globally threatened like White -bellied Heron, Black-necked Crane, Palla's Fish Eagle.

The team from Thimphu has recorded a female mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) for the first time along the Thimphu Chhu near Babesa and Similarly, Black-nacked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) was spotted for the first time in  Chamkhar Chhu in Bumthang by the team led by UWICE researcher accompanied by the 4th batch of Nature Guide trainees. The survey also recorded about 50 black stork (Ciconia nigra) along the Phibsu longa khola river which is said to be the largest flock recorded so far in Bhutan according to Bird Sherub.  

Professor Paulo C Alves who is here in the country as part of delegation from the university of Porto, Portugal has also participated the survey in Thimphu.