Brahmapur: The Odisha Forest Department has set up 22 temporary bird protection camps in Chilika, the country’s biggest waterfowl habitat, to provide security to the winged guests likely to arrive in hoards soon.
This apart, two mobile units and a control room were set up to protect the migratory birds.
At least two to three persons are engaged in each of the bird protection camps, which will continue until the end of March when the migratory birds begin their homeward journey, according to Amlan Nayak, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chilika wildlife division.
The highest number of 11 bird protection camps has been set up in the most vulnerable area in Tangi range, with four camps in Balugaon range. Three camps were set up in Rambha range and two each in Satapada and Chilika ranges, he said.
Round-the-clock patrolling will be conducted in the lake to maintain strict vigil on poachers’ movements. Around a dozen boats have been pressed into service for patrolling the lake, said the DFO.
The birds, mostly from beyond the Himalayas in Northern Eurasia, the Caspian region, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Lake Baikal and remote areas of Russia and neighbouring countries, visit Chilika every winter to escape the biting cold in their native places and start their homeward journey before summer begins.
The first batch of winged guests is expected to arrive at the lake next week. Last year, the migratory birds arrived at the lake in the second week of October.
The water level in Chilika is currently very high due to recent rains. Their arrival will only be known after assessment by the end of the first fortnight, Nayak said.
In the last winter, a total of 11,32,200 birds of 196 species had been sighted in the 1165 sq km vast lake. These included 11,10,257 migratory birds of 106 species and 21,943 resident birds of 90 species, as per the mid-winter bird survey in the lake conducted on January 18.
