Winged guests find home away from home in this Rayagada village

Rayagada: Its once again that time of the year when Bhaleri village under Gunupur of Rayagada district is filled with chirrups as thousand of winged guests make the river banks of Bansadhara river their temporary shelter for annual nesting.

The migratory birds, locally known as ‘Gendalia’ usually fly miles to this part of the state during the season and return with the onset of winter as soon as their hatchlings learn to fly.

Official sources said the number of winged guest flocking the region has increased in the recent years.

"The birds come here for annual breeding. They have been coming since the last ten years," said A Jagannath, a resident of Bhaleri village.

"The birds flock Bhaleri village during this season for nesting and as soon as winter arrives, they fly back. If the department concerned comes up with concrete plans by building bird park or garden in the area, they can be protected and conserved," advises a bird lover Raghunath Sabar.

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"At least 10,000-15,000 migratory birds have flocked to Bhaleri this year. We have been continuously organising meetings to spread awareness among the villagers so that the winged guests can be protected from the hunters or poachers. We have also engaged our officials to keep a tab on the migratory birds," informed forest ranger of Gunupur,” Ashok Pradhan.