Kendrapara: The Bhitarkanika forest and wildlife personnel are all set to carry out August 23 to 30 the monsoon bird census at Kanika Forest Range under Bhitarkanika National Park. They will undertake the exercise by forming three teams, comprising four forest personnel each, said Subrat Kumar Patra, ACF in-charge of Kanika Forest Range.
Basically, 11 types of local birds throng Bhitarkanika for nesting and breeding during the monsoon. They are: Open Bill Stork, Little Cormorant, Intermediate Egret, Large Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Night Heron, Darter, White Ibis and Cattle Egret.
The avian species selectively use species of mangroves for nesting in Guan, Bani and Choranda trees. The monsoon bird census will be carried out at Matha-adia and Bagagahan area.
For the past four years, residential birds have been arriving less in numbers to Bagagahan which once lured them. Earlier, it was known as paradise for residential birds. But, now, the residential birds prefer to congregate at Matha-adia instead of Bagagahan which covers about 10 acres of mangrove forest.
Though the monsoon birds have started nesting and breeding phenomenon at Matha-adia, they are yet to begin the process at Bagagahan. Around 10,000 Open Bill storks have recently swooped down at Bagagahan heronry, said Patra.
According to Bhitarkanika official sources, Open Bill storks form 60 per cent of the nesting population. They like to nest on the top of Guan trees while the lower branches are preferred by smaller birds like Little Cormorant.
An estimated 91,224 monsoon birds, including 51,444 chicks, and 19,890 nests were sighted during the last monsoon bird census at Matha-adia heronry.
PNN