Kendrapada: The population of nesting water birds in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park has risen marginally this year, with the annual colonial bird census recording 1,32,279 birds, including 76,151 chicks, across 10 species, a forest official said Friday.
The count was up from 1,30,796 birds recorded in 2025, he said.
The Asian Open-billed Stork remained the dominant species, with 16,111 nests and 78,925 birds. Other species recorded include the Black-headed Ibis, Purple Heron, Large Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Little Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron and Darter.
The census covered water bodies and mangrove areas around the Mathadia, Laxmiprasaddia, Durgaprasaddia and Balidia heronries.
Abundant fish, an extensive network of creeks and limited human interference make Bhitarkanika a favourable breeding ground for thousands of water birds, officials said.
Noted ornithologist Salim Ali reportedly discovered the bird habitat during a chance visit to Bhitarkanika in 1981, the official said.
PTI