Bhitarkanika National Park Sees Rise In Avian Count

Kendrapara: The bird count at Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district has increased by 9252 this year in comparison to last year, as per the annual bird census.

This year a total of 97,866 birds from 10 species were found in the National Park. The number of nests spotted this year is 21,185, an increase of 1959 from last year’s bird census.

"A total of 21,185 nests were found and 97866 birds have been identified. The nests were found in Mathadiha inside the national park and Laxmiprasad Diha and Durga Prasad Diha which located outside the park," said Bikash Ranjan Das, divisional forest officer, Rajnagar.

Every year, two teams with five forest staff each carry out the bird census. Birds like Kaparkhai, Anjana, Rani Baga, Panikua, Gendalia and Khaira are some of the species that throng Bhitarkanika during monsoon. These birds build nests in Guan, Bani and Kerua trees. This year the most identified species is Gendalia.

Availability of ample food and good weather condition are the major reasons why Bhitarkanika is known as the paradise for residential birds and also the reasons in the increase in the number of birds this year.

During monsoon, the migratory birds from far off places like the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, remote parts of Russia, Central and South-East Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas arrive here in thousands and return home by the end of October with their babies.