As many as 9,252 more residential birds thronged the Bhitarkanika National Park for nesting process than last monsoon as per bird census report.
An estimated 97,866 monsoon bird species ,including 47,915 chicks , were spotted by the enumerators , whereas 21,185 nests were sighted by the forest enumeration teams during the census ,that was carried out for a week from August 27 to September 2 within the Bhitarkanika National Park, informed DFO Rajnagar Bikash Ranjan Dash.
Notably, 88,614 monsoon bird species ,including 50,022 chicks , along with 19,296 nests were sighted last year during the census drive. This year not a single nest has been spotted at Bagagahan heronry ,which was proved over the years a favourite nesting place for the monsoon bird species, whereas the monsoon birds have visited Laxmiprasad-dia, Matha-adia and Durgaprasad-dia heronry. For the first time, the monsoon bird species have formed more than 400 nests at Durgapriasad-dia.
This year, as many as three forest teams were engaged for monsoon birds census. The forest officials generally carry out the census through individual counting by going near to the trees. Every year, with the onset of monsoon season, these birds generally come in large numbers to Bhitarkanika National park and nesting process gets over by end of November.
Darter , Grey heron and Purple heron start breeding early and often chicks are seen during first week of August, whereas Open Bill stork and White Ibis are among late breeders with young seen during August last week or September first week