Resident bird census begins at Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha

The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara on Sunday launched a five-day long census of the resident birds, which throng the wetland sites for nesting every year. The counting began at around 6am early in the morning and will be conducted in the National Park and its surrounding areas, informed Rajnagar DFO.

At least four teams have been constituted to carry out the bird count exercise. Each team has 5 members to conduct the headcount of the avian species. The counting that began today will continue for five days until September 7.

Over a dozen types of local resident birds congregate in and around the National Park, for nesting and breeding every year. An impressive congregation of birds is believed to have assembled this year too.

Besides the core area, peripheral wetland sites like Kanika Range, Matha-Adia, Durga Prasad Diya, and Kaliabhanja Diya are also being taken up for the census programme this year. 

“Every year, thousands of resident birds come to Bhitarkanika National Park and its surrounding areas for nesting. We usually conduct their census in the month of August or September. This year, the counting is being done from September 3 and will continue till September 7. Four teams have been formed for the census,” informed Sudarshan Gopinath Jadav, divisional forest officer, Rajnagar, Kendrapara.