Odisha: New Winged Visitor, Bank Swallow, Spotted At Mangalajodi

Bhubaneswar: Mangalajodi, the paradise for migratory birds, has a new guest this season. The bird watchers have spotted a new visitor, Sand Martin or Bank Swallow.

Trustee of Mangalajodi Conservation Trust and guide Madhu Behera found Riparia Riparia (scientific name) sitting on a pole and clicked pictures. He sent the pictures to Wildlife Supervisor for Khurda district Shuvendu Mallick who confirmed that Bank Swallow was never spotted before this in Odisha.

The world’s most trusted e-bird distribution website has also found that this bird has never been spotted in Odisha. Shuvendu Mallick said, “The e-bird website mentions that the Bank Swallow bird was spotted in the neighboring states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.”

The back of this bird is dark ash in colour, while the abdomen is white. Half neck is black and other half white. The top of the neck resembles body colour.”