The winter migratory birds, which thronged the Bhitarkanika national park in mid-October, have started their homeward journey with temperature getting warm.
While duck species have begun flying back, the wader species will go back within a few days, said Rajnagar Mangroves (forest) and Wildlife Division DFO Bikash Ranjan Dash.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 Bhitarakanika for about three- four months.
As per the mid winter waterfall bird status survey report of Bhitarkanika National park, this year the Bhitarkanika park received more birds than last year.
More varieties of bird species too visited to the park area this winter. According to Dash, as many as 121 types of bird species with a population of 1, 36,092 thronged Bhitarkanika National park this year.An estimated 33,697 brown headed gull came to the park which is reportedly the highest of bird population that visited this winter.
The geese and ducks came more than other bird species. A total of 59,185 in 20 types of geese and ducks were spotted. Similarly, 35,255 gulls, terns and skimmer of 5 types visited the park area.