Annual Bird Count Begins Across Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The annual bird census began in Odisha on Thursday with 26 teams including five experts, three ACFs and 70 forest officials engaged in the exercise in Brahmagiri, Nandankanan, Similipal and other forest divisions.

The counting at Brahmagiri forest division near Chilika started at 6 am.  Three units consisting of 10 officials each have been formed for the Brahmagiri wildlife range.

There could be a rise in the number of avian species compared to last year, said Akash Ranjan Rath, a bird expert.

Similar exercise has also begun in forest divisions of Mayurbhanj district, including Simlipal, Baripada, Rairangpur and Karanjia.

Around 25 camps have been set up at various places and around 1,000 forests and wildlife official, including staff, wildlife experts and academicians are likely to join the census process.

Bird counting will be conducted in Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, on January 4.and Bhitarkanika and Hirakud on January 6.

Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district will remain out of bounds to visitors from January 6 to 14 during the census drive of estuarine crocodile and migratory birds.

The headcount of crocodiles will be done at Mahanadi River System, Bhitarakanika River System, Ghodahad River Systerm and Similipal River System.

Similarly, the Dolphins census will be held on January 19.