Bhitarkanika records marginal rise in bird count

Kendrapara: Marking a marginal rise in the bird count, as many as 1,04,490 country birds have been included in the latest census at the Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district.

According to the officials, the census took the count from a total of  21956 nests in the national park.

A team was formed constituting the forest personnel of Rajnagar Forest Range to monitor Bagagahana, Mathaadia and other areas of the park to record the number of country birds, sources said.

Last year the bird count was recorded at 1,03,853 with 637 more birds counted this year in the national park, informed Rajnagar Forest Range officer Harekrushna Mallick.

"A total of 46847 birds were found in 9761 nests in Bagagahana, while Mathaadia recorded 12195 nests with 57683 birds. Among all the country birds, maximum number of Asian Openbills were found," he added.