Come winter, the Rushikulya river mouth is full of chirping sounds of birds. The river mouth in Ganjam becomes a destination of thousands of rare migratory birds from Siberia and European countries.
These birds from foreign countries come here in search of food during the winter. They reach various water bodies of Ganjam and Puri districts near the Chilika lake as their native places experience minus-zero temperatures. They fly in high sky for many days in high speed to reach these destinations.
Rabindra Nath Sahu, a volunteer wildlife caretaker of this area, identifies these birds of big height as Bird Headed Goz or Gayala Hansa. Every day, the birds come flying over the sky of Ganjam town in different shapes in the morning and return during the late afternoon. Local people enjoy this beauty of nature. Tourists come to the Potagada Fort of Ganjam town to witness these birds.
The rare birds normally reach Bhitarakanika, Nalabana of Chilika lake and Rushikulya river of Odisha after flying thousands of km and stay here from December to February every year. According to bird lovers, the number of foreign birds has increased to several lakhs this year.