Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there is good news for wildlife lovers as a very rare species of bird has been spotted in a wetland for the first time in the State.
The western reef-heron, also called western reef egret, which is dark-coloured with a white throat, was found by a guide, Madhu Behera, at Mangalajodi situated at the northern edge of Chilika lake.
Behera spotted the winged guest on Tuesday while he was monitoring the activities of birds in the lake.
Behera said he had seen the particular bird species last year in the same area but had paid no attention to it. Now, after clicking a few photographs of the bird, he discussed with some bird field guide personnel, following which he was confirmed that the bird was western reef-heron.
Primarily a coastal inhabitant, though the western reef-heron birds are found at some inland water bodies in southern Europe, Africa and parts of Asia and India, it was never found in Odisha.
This bird species is found in two plumage colour forms, all white morph and dark grey morph. The morphs can also occur with intermediate shades of grey as per the age. The white morph generally looks like little egret. However, the bird spotted at Chilika has a larger and curved beak, Behera said.