Chilika Lake Hosts Over 1.5L Winged Guests, Highest In 10 Yrs

Photograph: Sefali Suman

Balugan: The annual bird census at the Chilika lake this year has revealed the arrival of more than 1.5 lakh of migratory birds.

According to the census reports, a total of 10,47,968 migratory birds of 181 species of thronged Asia’s largest brackish water lake this yea,  which is 1,54,578 more than the previous year (8,93,390).

Besides, 3,93,541 birds have been sighted in the Nalabana areas of the lake which is 72,715 more than the previous year (3,20,826).

The census has revealed that the number of migratory birds in Chilika this year is the highest in the last 10 years.

The bird census was conducted by the 21 teams, comprising 100 Forest staff of the five divisions of the Chilika Wildlife on Friday.