Bhubaneswar: The midwinter waterfowl census is underway at Hirakud reservoir and other key wetland sites in with a focus on migratory species arriving in the state.
Apart from Hirakud, the bird count process kicked off on Tuesday at prime sites such as Chilika, Nalaban, Manglajodi, Bhitarkanika and Nandankanan, official sources informed on Wednesday.
The initiative aims to monitor bird populations and support conservation efforts. After detailed assessment and enumeration, the number of birds in the Hirakud reservoir is slated to be estimated on January 18.
In Hirakud, the mammoth exercise is being carried out by the Forest and Environment department across 21 sectors in the sprawling reservoir with the support of experts and field officers.
According to officials, over 32 experts and around 38 field officials have been engaged for the conduct of the bird census operation in Hirakud this time.
The bird count in Hirakud has been witnessing steady rise over the last several years. In 2025, the total bird count in Hirakud reservoir had increased over the previous year. A total 3,77,732 birds of 122 different species were spotted in the reservoir this year compared to 3,42,345 birds belonging to 113 species, last year.
Last year also, the reservoir, spanning 700 sq km, was divided into 21 sectors, with 32 teams and 70 participants conducting the survey. This collaborative effort resulted in an extensive understanding of the bird populations within
While in 2023, altogether 3,26,676 birds were recorded, in 2022, the count was 2,08,634. Likewise, the figures were 1,24,864 in 2021 and 97,899 in 2020.
Common resident birds in Hirakud include Egrets, Herons, Cormorants, and Lapwings, while migratory birds like Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, and Pochard arrive from countries like Russia, Siberia, Central Asia during winter.
