Berhampur: Rushikulya, one of the major rivers in the state, saw a huge drop in the number of winged visitors with fewer migratory birds being sighted this year. Ornithologists said the number of birds has dropped due to spread of prawn gherries. A bird census revealed a drop in the number of winged guests compared to those last year.
The river mouth is termed as the major mass nesting site of Olive Ridley sea turtles in India. However, the sudden drop in the number of birds has emerged as a concern for environmentalists and ornithologists. The prawn gherries not only affected the arrival of the birds, they have also affected the annual mass nesting of turtles, officials said. The marine species skipped their nesting due to massive prawn gherries that have come in the sea mouth.
Unfavorable climatic conditions may be another reason for the dwindling number of turtles. While Rushikulya played host to thousands of migratory birds every year, no new species were sighted on the river banks this year and the number of fish-eating birds has also decreased. Officials are yet to ascertain a reason behind the sudden drop in the number of feathered guests to the river.
According to officials, these winged guests from far off places like China, Russia and Europe flock to the river every winter for feeding and roosting. The fall in temperature at their home habitats compels these birds to migrate to Chilika and Rushikulya as these are ideal nesting places that are abundant in food. Later, they start their homeward journey with the onset of summer.
Illegal construction of prawn gherries has severely affected the arrival of foreign guests, officials said. Construction within 500 metres of the river bank is illegal.
Hundreds of vehicles come to these gherries every day polluting the river environment. Generators and lights used in the gherries is yet another major factor for the dip in the number of the feathered guests. Authorities have started a scientific analysis to identify the reason for the fast dwindling of these foreign guests, officials said. PNN