Kendrapada: The annual bird census began at Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district on Thursday, with forest officials launching the exercise to record the number and variety of birds across the sanctuary.
The three-day census of over 10 species of monsoon birds, which will continue till September 5, is being conducted by four teams comprising trained wildlife personnel, ornithologists and local volunteers, who will cover major bird congregation sites inside and outside the national park, officials said.
Apart from the core area, peripheral wetland sites at Mathadiha, Laxmiprasaddiha and Durgaprasaddiha are also being covered as part of the exercise, they added.
The arrival of monsoon birds was reportedly delayed this year because of uneven rainfall, but a sizeable congregation has already been spotted along the mangrove stretches and wetlands of the national park.
Bhitarkanika’s extensive river network, favourable climatic conditions, cool breeze and relatively low human interference make it an ideal habitat for the birds, they said.
More than 10 species of resident birds congregate at heronries in and around the national park every year for nesting and breeding. These include openbill stork, little cormorant, intermediate egret, large egret, little egret, purple heron, grey heron, night heron, darter, white ibis and cattle egret.
The annual census will help assess the population of these species and monitor their congregation, nesting and breeding patterns across the Bhitarkanika landscape, officials added.
