7.62 lakh winged guests visited Odisha’s Chilika this year

Odisha Sun Times Bureau:
Bhubaneswar, Jan 10:

The day-long annual bird census in Odisha’s Chilika lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, conducted on Friday counted 7.62 lakh winged guests of 172 species this year.

Chilika BirdsAs per official figures, of the total of 7,61,940 birds sighted, 1,78,787 were Eurasian birds, 1,28,729 Northern Pintail birds, 61,000 Godwit birds and 1375 flamingos.

While the maximum number of avian guests were sighted at Nalabana Bird Sanctuary, a meagre 2509 were seen at Rambha Range.

During the last census, 7.19 lakh birds were counted as compared to this year’s 7.62 lakh which is 42, 678 more than the last year’s tally.

The headcount at the Chilika lake was carried out from 6 AM to 5 PM on Friday by the Chilika Wildlife Division of the Forest department and experts from different organisations, including from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).

Every year, the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and the wildlife wing of the Forest department conduct this annual status survey of avian population in Chilika lake.

As many as 75 experts from various institutions conducted the survey. This apart, ornithologists, scientists and experts were part of the team. For this, 20 groups were deployed for counting in the lake spread over 1,135 sq km.

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