Bhubaneswar: The annual bird census to assess the migratory and resident bird population commenced on Sunday at Odisha’s major wetland sites, including Chilika Lake and Hirakud Dam.
The census will primarily focus on premier birding hotspots such as Chilika Lake, which is considered Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, Nalaban Bird Sanctuary, Manglajodi wetlands, Hirakud Reservoir, and Nandankanan Zoological Park.
This headcount will generate vital data for habitat management, biodiversity monitoring, and wildlife protection, a senior Forest department official said.
Teams comprising forest department officials and bird experts have been deployed to ensure an accurate and comprehensive count.
In Chilika Lake, as many as 22 teams have been formed for the census, with the wetland divided into five ranges — Balugan, Rambha, Tangi, Chilika and Satapada. Each team consists of around 10 to 12 members. Forest officials and bird experts are closely monitoring bird activity in areas such as Mangalajodi using binoculars, while small boats are being used to avoid disturbing the birds.
As the mammoth exercise commenced, experts associated with the census operation said several new bird species have been sighted this year. The exact number of species and birds will be known after the counting process is completed.
Similarly, bird counting is also in progress at Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur district, where 32 teams comprising around 70 bird counters are engaged in the exercise. Forest officials from Sambalpur, Bargarh and Jharsuguda districts have been included in the teams conducting the bird count.
The Hirakud reservoir has been divided into 21 sectors, extending up to the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border. Along with forest officials, bird enthusiasts, members of bird clubs, photographers, and students are also taking part. GPS trackers are being used to assist in monitoring and data collection.
Sharing information about the operation, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Hirakud Wildlife Division, Anshu Pragyan Das, said that 38 teams involving 92 participants began the bird counting process from 6 am. The teams include 38 bird experts, around 40 forest staff, and school and college students assisting with bird identification.
In the 2025 mid-winter waterfowl survey – conducted for the first time on a single day on January 18 – over 16 lakh birds belonging to more than 200 species were recorded across three major wetlands of Chilika, Bhitarkanika and Hirakud in Odisha. Chilika alone hosted approximately 11.27 lakh birds of 196 species, officials said.
