Dip In Migratory Bird Count At Bhitarkanika This Year

Photograph: Sefali Suman

Kendrapara: The number of migratory birds, which flock to the mangrove belts of Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district for their winter sojourn, has dropped this year.

The bird census was carried out on Sunday.

Talking to the media, deputy director of the Bombay Natural History Society Dr Balachandran said there has been a fall in the number of the migratory birds by 3878 in the park this year.

“As per the annual census report last year, a total of 1,12,083 migratory birds had thronged the park. However, the number of these avian guests has come down to 1,09,059 this year,” he added.

He also informed that 74 species of migratory birds have been spotted in the park this year.

“The census was carried out by 16 teams with 3-4 members in each team. The team, led by Dr Balachandran had conducted the head count of the migratory birds in the wetland areas of the park, including Raipatia, Mathadia, Guptighata, Hansinaghata and Batighara,” DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (Forest) and Wildlife Division Bimal Prasanna Acharya said.

The annual census of the estuarine crocodiles in the park is underway and it will be concluded on January 14, he added.

The Forest department had closed the park for the visitors for the annual census of migratory birds and the estuarine crocodiles on January 6.