Migratory bird census begins at Hirakud Dam reservoir

The bird counting teams include forest officials like guards, ACFs, range officers, apart from veterinary surgeons, ornithologists, wildlife enthusiasts and local bird club members. Students from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology in Bhubaneswar have also been roped in for the census drive.

Sambalpur: The annual enumeration of migratory birds at Hirakud Dam Reservoir began on Thursday morning. The head counting of the avian species began at 6 AM and will continue till 1 PM today, said a forest official.

As many as 21 teams comprising forest staff of Sambalpur, Hirakud, and Jharsuguda divisions have been engaged in the exercise.

The Hirakud reservoir has been divided into 18 sectors while the power channel has been divided into 3 sectors.

"14 non-motorised boats, six motorised boats, and one other vehicle have been deployed for the movement of the census team,” informed Jitendra Kumar Behera Assistant Conservator Of Forest (ACF), Hirakud Wildlife Division.

The bird counting teams include forest officials like guards, ACFs, range officers, apart from veterinary surgeons, ornithologists, wildlife enthusiasts and local bird club members. Students from Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology in Bhubaneswar have also been roped in for the census drive.

"The teams have been provided with GPS, route charts, maps, binoculars, and sophisticated cameras for counting the migratory birds at the reservoir," ACF Jitendra Kumar Behera said.