Over 1.2L birds arrive at Bhitarkanika for nesting

Kendrapada: The population of birds for nesting has increased in Bhitarkanika National Park this monsoon season. Following the bird census, forest officials pegged the population at 1,23,867 birds belonging to 10 species, an increase by 7,797 from 2022.“We monitored all the water bodies and mangrove forest areas of Mathadia, Laxmiprasaddia, Durgaprasaddia and Balidia from September 3 to 8 and did proper bird surveys. Around 20 people, including senior forest officials, were distributed into four groups for the census work. The increase in the number of birds visiting Bhitarkanika is a good sign for bird conservation programmes,” said Sudrashan Gopinath Yadav, divisional forest officer (DFO), Bhitarkanika national park.Abundant fish in the river and creeks and the distance from human habitation make it a Bhitarkanika a suitable breeding place for thousands of birds. Among those birds found nesting at Bhitarkanika are the Asian open billed stork, large egret, little egret, purple heron, grey heron, little cormorant and others. tnn
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