New Delhi:
Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon and bird lovers’ paradise in winters has seen being 8, 58, 855 belonging to over 161 species this winter. The lake is spread in three districts of Odisha. Every year winged guests from Siberia, Balkan Lake, remote areas of Russia and other parts of the world.
The counting of winged guests was done under the supervision of Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and Chilika Wildlife Division with the help of specialists, scientists, NGOs and local fishermen.
As many as 20 groups took part in the census and counted in areas including Balugaon, Tangi, Chilika, Satapada, Nalabana and Rambha ranges
This winter, there has been an increase of 96, 915 migratory birds in Chilika, while, there has seen an increase of 7, 128 winged visitors in the Nalabana area. It was expected more but due to rise in temperature and deficiency in rain, many foreign guests were unable to arrive in the state.
The lake has been a paradise for birds as every year from November to February a crowd of foreign birds visit to Chilika. This year, the largest number of bird flocks are the Gharwal birds, whose numbers are more than 2 lakhs, while the smallest numbers are of baillon’s crake which is just two of them. This year over 1000 beautiful and colourful Flemingoes were also seen.
Among the five ranges in Chilika, Balugaon has the highest number of birds 5, 63, 725, while, the lowest numbers 3, 416 were found in Rambha range.
In Tangi area, 1, 48, 307 birds were sighted, Chilika had 11, 946 and in Satapada range 1, 31, 461 birds have gathered.
In Chilika this year there was a rise of 12 pc and in Tangi mere 2 pc rise observed.
