Bird census in Odisha to begin from tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: This year's bird census in Nandankanan, Similipal and other forest divisions will begin from tomorrow and the same will be carried out in Chilika from January 4 followed by Bhitarkanika & Hirakud from January 6, informed Chief Wildlife Warden Sandeep Tripathy.

The official informed that preparations are underway for the census which is conducted every year."Bird census is conducted every year. On January 4, we have a census in Chilika for which preparations are underway. The tentative estimate for this year is nearly 8 lakh birds and there are 130 species of birds," Tripathy said.

While as many as 14 camps have been established in Chilika, special protection camps are being set up in Bhitarkanika, Puri, Chandaka and Sambalpur area.

The Chief Wildlife Warden informed that a census for Olive Ridley turtles will also be done along with an estimation of crocodile population between January 6 and 14 followed by the dolphin census on January 19.