Odisha launches annual mid-winter bird census across key wetlands

Bhubaneswar, Jan 18: The annual mid-winter waterfowl census to evaluate the populations of migratory and resident wetland birds commenced on Saturday, focusing on three key wetlands in Odisha: Chilika, Bhitarkanika, and Hirakud.

This year, 21 teams equipped with census forms, field guides, cameras, binoculars, and spotting scopes are conducting the count in Chilika, while 18 teams are assigned to both Bhitarkanika and Hirakud. Unlike previous years when the census was conducted over several weeks between December and January, this year’s assessment is being completed in a single day.

The counting is taking place across various locations in Chilika Lake, including Balugaon, Satapada, Nuapada, Tangi, and Rambha, as well as in the Hirakud reservoir, which spans approximately 550 square kilometers of wetlands across Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Bargarh districts.

Anshu Pragyan Das, the DFO of Hirakud Wildlife Division, stated that the reservoir has been divided into 21 sectors for efficient counting, with 32 teams comprising 70 birdwatching experts participating in the effort.

Participants have been supplied with binoculars, GPS devices, and life jackets. Among the species observed in these wetlands are the Glossy Ibis, Purple Moorhen, Pintail, Godwit, Great Egret, Medium Egret, Bronze-winged Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, and Cormorants. Notably, migratory birds began arriving in the Chilika Wildlife Division in September, one month earlier than expected.