TV
Odisha on Saturday commenced its comprehensive midwinter bird census, aiming to log both indigenous and migratory bird species across the state. For the first time, this bird census is being carried out in all the 52 forest divisions in Odisha, marking a significant scale-up in efforts to understand avian biodiversity.
On Thursday, a mock drill was held to prepare for the census, followed by specialised training for experts on Friday. The regions of Chilika Lake, Bhitarkanika National Park, and Hirakud Dam are of paramount importance due to their substantial bird populations.
21 teams are designated for both Chilika and Hirakud, while 18 are allocated to Bhitarkanika. Each team comprises an ornithologist, forest personnel, and 5-6 additional members, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
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Chilika Lake, renowned for its avian diversity, will be covered across five distinct ranges: Balugaon, Satapada, Nuapada, Tangi, and Rambha. Meanwhile, the Hirakud Dam survey spans an extensive 550 square kilometres, with 32 teams engaged in the counting process. The census is scheduled to operate until 6:00 pm today.
The staff of Chilika Wildlife Division, experts of Chilika Development Authority (CDA), students of the state-owned Odisha University of Agriculture and Training (OUAT) and activists of various organisations are participating in the census.
Last winter, a total of 11,37,759 birds of 187 different species were counted in the 1,100 sq km blue lagoon, official sources said. The winged guests from far-off places, including the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, remote parts of Russia, Central and South East Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas visit the lake every winter to escape the severe cold in their natives.
They start their homeward journey with the onset of summer.
