Sambalpur: The Hirakud wetland adjoining the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha has witnessed a remarkable rise in summer bird nesting this year.
Wildlife authorities have recorded 19 nesting bird species, nearly double the 10 species documented last year. Nesting activity has spread across 28 islands within the Hirakud reservoir, up from 26 islands in 2025, forest officials said.
The addition of two new nesting sites—Tupa Dungri and Bhalu Dunguri—highlights the improving condition of breeding habitats in the wetland ecosystem.
Officials attributed the positive trend to a series of conservation initiatives undertaken in the area. These include the removal
of fishermen’s encroachments from sensitive shoreline zones, helping to secure nesting grounds and facilitate unhindered movement of wildlife. Efforts are continuing to clear remaining encroached stretches around the reservoir.
Among the 19 species recorded nesting this season, 10 prominent birds include the little tern, river tern, gull-billed tern, small pratincole, oriental pratincole, red-wattled lapwing, yellow-wattled lapwing, skimmer, little ringed plover and greater painted snipe.
Divisional Forest Officer of Hirakud Wildlife Division, Anshu Pragyan Das, said the increase in nesting activity reflects the success of sustained habitat protection and ecological management measures implemented across the wetland.
Conservation efforts have focused on preserving both nesting locations and the ecological conditions essential for successful breeding. Protective measures have included safeguarding reed beds, grasses, shrubs and trees used by birds for nesting, restricting vegetation cutting during the breeding season, and maintaining natural islands and shallow marshes that serve as important breeding habitats.
The encouraging rise in nesting activity underscores the growing ecological health of the Hirakud wetland and reinforces the importance of conservation efforts in the region, officials said.