Rajkanika Jan 15 : Every year during winter birds from Siberian country migrate to Bhitarkanika national park . But this year the number of migratory birds in Bhitarkanika National Park has increased .
According to the report a total of 1,38,107 migratory birds belonging to 144 species were spotted in the park during the annual census carried out on January 12. However the number of birds in Last year was 1,36,092 birds of 121 species.
According to the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Bhitarkanika JD Pati the number of birds increased this year due to the availability of open space after eviction of illegal prawn gheris on vast tracts of land by forest and revenue officials.
As many as 17 teams comprising 60 personnel, which included ornithologists, wildlife officials and activists, took part in the bird census. The increase in the number of avian guests is a good sign for bird conservation programmes in India, said Mr pati.
“We sighted around 59,285 geese and ducks. Other most important birds counted in the park are grebes, pelicans, finfoot, jacanas, gulls, terns, skimmer, grey-headed lapwing, terek sandpiper, painted snipe and other species,” Pati added.