Kendrapada: A five-day long monsoon bird census kick-started at Kanika forest range under Bhitarkanika National Park from Sunday. The forest officials started the census by forming four teams at three places within Kanika forest range under Rajnagar mangrove forest and wildlife division. The census is being carried out at Laxmiprasad Dia, Durgaprasad Dia, and Mathadia heronries, Manas Kumar Das, ranger of Kanika forest range said. He said this year 10 out of 11 types of monsoon birds have thronged Bhitarkanika and formed nests.
Basically, 11 types of local birds throng Bhitarknaika for nesting and breeding during the monsoon. Open bill stork, Little cormorant, Intermediate Egret, Large Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Night Heron, Darter, White Ibis, and Cattle Egret use mangroves for constructing nests in the trees of Guan, Bani, Choranda, Kerauan and Oruan trees. Mathadia heronry seems to be the favourite nesting and breeding place for these monsoon birds for the last couple of years. Each team consists of five forest personnel, informed official sources.