Bhubaneswar: The bird census will begin in January 2025, informed Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, the Minister for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change in Odisha Assembly on Tuesday. The minister has submitted a written reply in the House in this regard.
As per the Minister, the bird census will begin in January. During the winter season, migratory birds from far countries are usually seen in the water bodies surrounding Chilika Lake.
He informed that Odisha has received 4 lakh 94 thousand 366 migratory birds from this water body till November. As many as 2 lakh 17 thousand 170 foreign birds have arrived in Nala bana.
It is to be noted that during the winter season, migratory birds are usually seen in the water bodies around Chilika Lake such as Mangalajodi, Bhusandpur, Balipatpur, Nairi, Baulabhandha, Badagotha, Tuagambhari, Gurubai, Sipiya, Nala bana, Madhurachua, Samalnasi, Pandanasi, Panchakudi, Sunanda and Kaluri.
Every year, in between October and March end, 21 temporary bird protection camps and 2 mobile teams are formed for protection of migratory birds. Three local youths and a forest guard each camp day and night to provide protection to the birds, the minister said.
It is to be noted that Migratory birds, mostly from beyond the Himalayas in Northern Eurasia, the Caspian region, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Lake Baikal and the remote areas of Russia and neighboring countries visit the Chilika every winter and start their homeward journey before the onset of summer.
