Bhubaneswar: Chilika has turned into a paradise for birdwatchers as thousands of exotic birds have flocked from across the world. Every year during winter, millions of birds arrive at Chilika, the largest brackish water lake of Asia, and other wetlands of Odisha drawing tourists towards the visual spectacle.
Maximum number of these winged guests are seen in Chilika, Bhitarkanika and Hirakud divisions. As part of the plan, on Saturday, the state government initiated its annual bird census, simultaneously deploying teams across key wildlife zones to complete the bird counting process in a single day.
Odisha Forest & Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, was the Chief Guest on the inaugural day of Chilika Bird Census and Training. Before touring Nalabana to witness the migratory birds, he also felicitated Sujit Narwade, Deputy Director of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), who was training the groups for the census.
Bird counting is underway simultaneously in all the 52 Wildlife Divisions of the state, with special emphasis on Chilika, Hirakud, and Bhitarkanika. A total of 21 teams have been deployed in Chilika and Hirakud for bird counting, of which eight teams are stationed in Tangi range, five in Balugaon, three teams in Satapada and five teams in Rambha area. Eighteen teams have been deployed in Bhitarkanika. Similarly, the Rajnagar Forest Department will count birds in five ranges including Rajnagar, Gahirmatha, Mahakalpada and Kujang.
Officials from the BNHS, wildlife team, students from OUAT Bhubaneswar, and volunteers have joined the enumeration operation. Prior to the operation, mock drills were carried out to train the enumerators for precise data collection on the number of birds and the species. Each census group comprises five to six members, which includes forest staff and ornithologists as well.