New Delhi:
The Odisha has started its annual bird counting census in Anshupa Lake and Chilika, Asia's largest brackish water lake and the largest winter resort for migratory birds.
In winters, Chilika turns into a home of many birds from Siberia, Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, remote parts of Russia.
According to the forest department around 20 teams, including research scholars and bird lovers of the state are participating in the bird enumeration with the help of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and Chilika Development Authority (CDA).
For the last 10 years, the govt has been counting birds in a scientific way. During the census, the govt tries to find out how many species of birds are coming to Indian sub-continent.
However, a rise in temperature and scarcity in rainfall in the state can bring down the winged guests.
Besides Chilika, bird count has started in 13 other places under the Athagarh subdivision area in Cuttack district. In Sambalpur district, the bird count at the Hirakud Reservoir was also held.
Around 96,000 birds have visited Hirakud water reservoir and as many as 10 new kinds of birds spotted in the state.
Last year, over 7.65 lakh migratory birds had thronged Chilika Lake during winter.
