People of Mayong village in Morigaon district of Assam have gone out of their way to secure an ideal habitat for the oriental pied hornbill, aiding in the conservation efforts to safeguard the species. Thanks to the community conservation initiative, the village now has a small colony of oriental pied hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris). The small flock, numbering about 30, are nesting and breeding in and around the locality. “The hornbills have been living in the village for several years. At present there are more than 30 of them. They have become a part of the daily lives of the villagers and everyone is engaged in the conservation of the bird colony,” says Nipen, a nature lover. “The good thing is that the birds are roosting and breeding in our village, as they are finding the habitat suitable,” he adds. Villagers have prioritised planting fruit-bearing trees so that the hornbills can get food in the vicinity. They have planted banana and papaya trees in their backyards for the cause. The villagers hold…