More than 11.37 lakh avian guests of 187 species throng Odisha’s Chilika lake

Balugaon: The ongoing head count of the winged birds in and around Chilika lake for FY 2023-24 concluded today evening and around 11,37,759 avian guests belonging to at least 187 different species migrated to the Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon this season, a Forest Department source informed.

The bird census was conducted at five Forest ranges such as Balugaon, Chilika, Tangi, Satapada, and Rambha in Khurda, Puri, and Ganjam districts. However, Nalabana area in Chilika witnessed the highest number of migratory bird congregation.

About 21 teams were formed for the purpose of head counting, of which 19 were for the water surfaces and two teams worked on lands. A total of as many as 3,47,280 birds came to Nalabana of Balugaon range, which witnessed the maximum number of avian guests, DFO Amlan Kumar Nayak said.

The teams comprised forest personnel, ornithologists, bird enthusiasts, and researchers.

Notably, the total headcount in Nalabana was 3,47,280. As per 2023 census, the total headcount in Chilika was 11,31,929 winged birds of 184 species. Nalabana witnessed a total count of 3,42,897 birds last year. This year, there is a total increase of 5,830 birds and in Nalabana it is 4,383.

The majority of birds were Northern Pintail (2,18,650), followed by Gadwall (1,56,636) and Eurasian Wigeon (1,40,322), the DFO expressed.