Kendrapada: The Bhitarkanika National Park in the district has come alive as migratory birds have started arriving on their annual sojourn.
The birds of different species like curlew, godwit, turnstone, black-winged stilt, bar-headed goose, marsh sandpiper, red-necked phalarope, western reef egret, great knot, tawny pipit and Goliath heron have landed in the park from Central Asia and European countries.
The migratory wild guests have started making their nests near water bodies like Hukitola, Satabhaya, Agarnashi and other small islands in the park.
These birds migrate to natural conducive habitat in the park to escape from the freezing climate of their home habitations during the winter. They stay in the park till their offsprings gain enough strength for the return journey.
“The water bodies, regulated by tides, provide a congenial atmosphere for the birds to settle in the park. Abundant fish in the river and creeks make it a suitable habitation for them to stay here,” TOI quoted JD Pati, divisional forest officer of the park, as saying.
As per the official census, 1,36,092 migratory birds belonging to 121 species had arrived in the Bhitarkanika Park last year.
