Over 1.5L migratory birds sighted in Bhitarkanika in Jan 18 census

Kendrapada: Altogether 1,52,762 migratory birds of 106 species arrived in Bhitarkanika National Park compared to 1,51,614 birds belonging to 118 species that arrived last year, according to the migratory bird census report.“We sighted 93,821 geese and ducks, 17,643 gulls, terns and skimmers, 13,183 herons and egrets, 9,013 shorebirds and waders, 6,121 cormorants and darters, 4,002 waterbirds, 3,533 storks, 2,296 rails, gallinules and coots, 2,167 ibises and spoonbills, 724 fin-foot and jacanas and 259 grebes, etc,” said Varadaraj Gaonkar, the divisional forest officer (DFO), Bhitarkanika National Park.As per the records of the forest department, 1,51,421 migratory birds had come in 2024, 1,39,959 in 2023, 1,38,107 in 2022, 1,36,092 in 2021, 1,18, 326 in 2020, 1,09, 059 in 2019, 1,12, 936 in 2018 and 76,268 birds in 2017.Around 70 people, including noted ornithologists, officials of wildlife organisations and wildlife activists comprising 18 teams took part in the annual bird census on Jan 18, said the forest officer.The birds have come from Central Asia and Europe. Tourists and bird lovers are enjoying bird watching in the water bodies of the lake, said Gaonkar.“The winged visitors started arriving in November as the park presents them a comparatively hospitable alternate habitat compared to the extreme freezing conditions in their natural habitats in Siberia, China, Japan and other countries in the northern hemisphere. The huge gathering of birds in Bhitarkanika and their activities is a visual treat. The birds often frequent open wetlands that have enough fish, prawns, frogs, snakes and molluscs.

The area provides an extensive feeding ground because of the availability of abundant fish in the lake and its distance from human habitats,” said the forest officer.