Winter migratory birds have started arriving at the Bhitarkanika National Park for their annual breeding and nesting, said the Rajnagar Mangrove Forest (wildlife) division DFO Kedar Kumar Swain.
With the onset of winter, the Bhitarkanika National Park usually receives the avian guests. Nearly, 12,000 winter avian species have already arrived at the park. They contained shore bird species like sand piper, pintail, grey heron, white ibis, pelican, whistling teal, seagulls and tawny eagle. These birds have occupied their places in the branches of the mangroves trees in the dense part of the park at Satabhaya, Barunei Muhana, Chataka, Praharajpur and Raitapatia, said forest official sources.
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 to four months before starting their homeward sojourn. As per the bird status survey report, 2012 of the park, as many as 111 types of bird species came to the park last year. An estimated 81, 401 birds were sighted by the Bhitarkanika officials in the annual bird status survey last year.
The highly productive ecosystem provides enough fishes, prawns, frogs and molluscan to these birds. Besides, the birds prefer the park for its serene and tranquil atmosphere.