Bhubaneswar/Athagarh/Brahmagiri: The Wildlife wing of the Odisha Forest department today undertook simultaneous bird counting at the Ansupa lake, Mahanadi river bed, Brahmagiri range and three forest divisions in Baripada.
Total 67 teams were formed and participated in the bird census at Ansupa lake and the Mahanadi river bed under the Athagarh range.
Goura Gopal Singh, Athgarh Forest Range Officer, said, “In Athagarh range only, 20 teams participated in the bird counting in Munduli, Ansupa, Kantapara and Kandarpur. Three teams of wild life experts are also part of the bird census teams.”
Singh added, “As marsh has covered the water bodies, the number of birds have decreased this year possibly due to that.”
Prasant Choudhury, Athgarh DFO, who was part of the bird counting team, stated, “At Ansupa, we spotted different species of birds including Red Crested Pochard. However, due to excess marsh deposits, there is a decline in number of birds at the lake.”
In Brahmagiri range, four teams including bird expert and volunteers started bird counting from 6 am today. Total 29 teams of Puri Forest Division undertook bird census.
Sahaji Charan Biswal, Range Officer, Brahmagiri, said, “GPS, camera and binoculars were used in the bird census.”
In three divisions of Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, the bird census was undertaken at more than 100 water bodies.
Also read: Bird count rises in Bhitarkanika
Arun Kumar Patra, Baripada ACF, said, “Like every year in mid-winter we conducted bird census today. Six new species were found and the detailed data will be collated and sent to the circle.”
He added, “Significant number of birds was spotted near Jharamata in Bangiriposi. Lesser whistling duck of 250-300, common pochard, pond heron, cattle egret and two types of kingfisher were found at the spot.”