Forest officials in Tamil Nadu will start a large survey to check the status of hornbill birds in local forests. The survey will happen during the hornbills' breeding season, from late December 2025 to March or early April 2026. It is part of Tamil Nadu's hornbill conservation plan announced earlier this year. The initial phase will cover the Anamalai, Srivilliputhur–Megamalai, and Kalakkad–Mundathurai tiger reserves, as well as the Karamadai and Mettupalayam ranges in the Coimbatore forest division. These spots were chosen due to previous hornbill records. Officials said the survey will use the line transect method, where teams walk many kilometres daily to spot hornbills and estimate their numbers. Four species will be the focus: Great Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Indian Grey Hornbill, and Malabar Pied Hornbill. Besides counting birds, the project also aims to protect the birds' natural habitat, especially large mature trees with hollows needed for nesting. A senior official said the State government's July 2025 move to set up the country's first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at Anamalai Tiger Reserve shows strong commitment. The survey results will give accurate data on hornbill populations and help plan better conservation work in the future.