Kendrapara: Forest personnel have sighted 21,920 nests of residential birds in Bagagahan and Mathadia under Bhitarkanika National Park in this monsoon season which is more than the numer of nests spotted last time, said Bimal Prasanna Acharya, DFO of Rajnagar mangrove (Forest) and wildlife division.
In last year’s monsoon bird census, the forest officials had sighted 20,507 nests. An estimated 1,07,268 birds, including 42,911 adult ones, thronged Bagagahan and Mathadia forests this monsoon. The avian species have chosen 2,298 mangrove trees for nesting and breeding, as per the census, which was carried out from August 22 to 28.
According to the DFO, this year 10,969 more birds, including adults and chicks, have been sighted in Bhitarkanika than last year. Some of the bird species that thronged the national park this year are Asian Open Bill Stork, Grey Heron, Large Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little egret, Night Heron, Purple Heron, Darter, Little cormorant and White Ibis.
This time, Open Bill Stork formed more than 70 per cent of 1,07,268 birds that came to Bhitarkanika. Open Bill Stork prefers to form its nest in Guan trees. The bird forms its nest on top canopy whereas the lower most branches are preferred by smaller birds like Cormorants, said the DFO.
The forest officials carried out the census through individual counting method, it was learnt. PNN
