Bhubaneswar: Climate change has affected the arrival of migratory birds in the state this winter season, a report said Monday. The matter came to the fore following an analysis of the bird census data from various wetlands of the state gave mixed results. This has sparked concern among the environmentalists, bird watchers, and nature lovers. The census results showed a decline in the number of migratory birds arriving at most wetlands in the state whereas the figures have gone up in some other places. Experts who participated in the bird census said the reason behind the dismal numbers is climate change. Ornithologist Shiba Prasad Parida said migratory birds visit those places in winter where they get food, water, cover and security. The security aspect can be affected by humans and other animals but the first three factors are directly linked to climate change. Sources said most of the migratory birds seen in the state are from Asian and European countries.
Some other birds also fly in from other continents and return after a brief sojourn. These birds are forced to migrate due to adverse conditions of living arising out of extreme cold and snowfall in their areas. The Forest department is taking steps for the winged guests’ security and trying to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to the migratory birds’ arrival and stay, which in return also helps boost tourism in the state. However, an analysis of the bird census reports has given a mixed result. The number of migratory birds has reduced in most places but increased in some other places. The number of migratory birds visiting Mangalajodi in Chilika has drastically reduced this year. Tourists and locals visiting Mangalajodi for bird watching also noticed a drop in the number of migratory birds. The boatmen ferrying tourists to Mangalajodi are finding it difficult to tow their boats due to the declining water level in the lake. Madhu Behera, a tourist guide, said this is the first time that Mangalajodi is in such a deplorable condition. The temperatures were quite high in summer last year while the rainfall also reduced during monsoon this year.
As a result, water level has reduced in Mangalajodi this year. The decline in water level also affected the availability of food for the birds, he said. Wildlife guide Lalit Mohan Panda, who participated in the bird census at Badakuda in Satapada, said that the latest cyclonic storm Michaung may have affected the migration of these birds. Specific routes were allotted for the bird census but their boat failed to move due to decline in water level, he said. While returning, the census personnel took out their binoculars and found that around 1.26 lakh birds had assembled at a short distance. Panda and other forest personnel said they had never before seen an assembly of such a large number birds at that place. He said that the arrival of migratory bird will certainly decline if they do not find safe habitat and food to survive. A bird watcher and architect Shakti Nanda said this year the onset of winter was delayed by three weeks due to climate change. The mercury went up very high in summer while rainfall in the state during the monsoon was inadequate. The state also witnessed unseasonal rainfall. The migratory birds will shift to other places if they do not find a safe habitat and sufficient food for their survival. Nanda participated in the bird census at Arakhakuda in Satapada this year. However, his team surprisingly found 42,000 birds during the census at Arakhakuda which was not a wintering ground for the migratory birds earlier, he added.