Migratory birds begin homeward journey from Bhitarkanika national park

Kendrapara: With the rise in day temperature, the winter migratory birds, who flew to Bhitarkanika in mid-October, have started their homeward journey.

Rajnagar Mangroves (forest) and wildlife Division DFO Bikash Ranjan Dash said the duck species have started their homeward journey but the wader species are yet to return from the national park as several of them were seen at Satabhaya.

Although thousands of birds have started their homeward journey, still several flocks are yet to return from the meadows and water bodies which are yet to be dried up at many places of the National park.

Every year with the onset of winter, Bhitarkanika water bodies, the abode of avian species, wore a colourful look.

The migratory birds fly thousands of miles to Bhitarakanika to escape the harsh winter in Siberia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Asia and some central European countries

They generally stay in Bhitarkanika for about three to four months to escape from harsh winter before starting their homeward sojourn from the park.

The migratory birds returned when the water bodies near the Bhitarkanika National Park dried up.

As per the Mid-winter waterfall bird status survey report of Bhitarkanika National park, more numbers of birds came this time to Bhitarkanika National park than last year. Even, some more bird species too visited the National park area this winter .

Mr Dash said as many 1,36,092 birds of 121 species thronged Bhitarkanika National park during the winter season.

This year 16 more bird species and 17,766 more birds were spotted by the enumerators at the swampy, water bodies of National park during the annual migratory bird status survey conducted in January last.

An estimated 33,697 brown headed gull came to Bhitarkanika National park which is reportedly the highest number of bird population, visited this winter to the National park.

Ironically, not a single pelican, crane, flamingo species and Indian skimmer spotted at Bhitarkanika national park this year. (UNI)