Berhampur: In a good news for bird lovers, more than 1,000 bar headed geese have flocked river Rushikulya in Odisha’s Ganjam district.
Various water bodies in the state have been happy nesting grounds for thousands of birds of different species in the winter season. Of those, Rushikulya river system stands out as a prominent place for the aviation guests.
The birds from far off places like Central Asia and Europe migrate to natural habitations in Odisha to escape the freezing temperatures during the winter there. Chilika lake, Bhitarkanika National Park and Rushikulya attract most of the migratory birds who stay through the winter.
According to researcher and Rushikulya Sea Turtle Suraksha Samiti secretary, Rabindranath Sahu, bar headed geese have been coming to Rushikulya for the last 7 years. These birds fly thousands of kms from Mongolia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Ladakh to come to Bhitarkanika and Chilika besides Rushikulya, he said.
He further said these geese can fly at a great height due to their high oxygen retention capacity. They can travel upto 1,600 km in a day and it takes them 10 to 12 days reach Odisha. Due to conducive natural habitat in these places, the geese engage in nesting and breeding during their annual stay.
In the last two days, around 1,000 bar headed geese have arrived at Rushikulya, said Sahu.
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