BHUBANESWAR: Slight increase in bird numbers recorded in Chilika

Bhubaneswar: Chilka Lake recorded a marginal increase in bird numbers this year as Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon hosted about 11.37 lakh feathered guests in the current winter season, compared to 11.32 lakh in the last season. , revealed the Annual Water Bird Status Survey 2024 on Thursday. ,

A slight increase was also recorded in the number of migratory bird species congregating in the lagoon this year as the figure increased from 105 in 2023 to 108 in 2024. A total aggregation of 3,42,897 birds was recorded in Nalbana, which is 4,383 more than last year.

The annual census exercise conducted jointly by the Chilika Development Authority (CDA), the State Wildlife Organization and the Bombay Natural History Society (BHNS) recorded a total assemblage of 11,37,759 birds of 187 different species, including 10,98,813 from 108 Migratory birds were included. 38,946 bird species and wetland dependent species.

Last year, the number of these feathered guests visiting the wetland was 11,31,929 birds of 184 species. This included 10,93,049 birds of 105 migratory species and 38,880 birds of 79 wetland dependent species.