Orissa gives a warm welcome to the winged guests – beautiful birds that flock to the state at the beginning of winter every year. Their happy hunting grounds are the extensive wastelands in and around Chilika Lake which make the place an attractive tourist destination. Ahead of World Migratory Bird Day (May 9) Shabiha Nur Khatoon presents a report on migratory birds.
The first thing which comes to mind when we think about bird migration is the image of geese winging their aerial way southward in wrinkled V-shaped flocks against the blue sky. The migration of geese is an example of the annual, large-scale movement of birds between their breeding (summer) homes and their non-breeding (winter) grounds. Migration is the regular seasonal movement, often northwards and southwards undertaken by species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Many bird populations migrate long distances along a flyway.
Why do birds migrate?
Birds migrate to move from areas of low or decreasing resources to areas of high or increasing resources. The two primary resources are the availability of food and nesting locations.
Birds that nest in the northern hemisphere tend to migrate northwards in the spring to take advantage of burgeoning insect populations, budding plants and an abundance of nesting locations. As winter approaches and the availability of insects and other food resources drop, the birds move southwards again. Escaping the cold is a motivating factor but many species, including hummingbirds, can withstand freezing temperatures as long as an adequate supply of food is available.
Types of migration
The term migration is used to describe movements of populations of birds (or other animals). One way to look at migration is to consider the distances travelled.
Short-distance migrants: May move only a short distance, as from higher to lower elevations on a mountainside.
Medium-distance migrants: Some species may cover distances that span from one to several states.
Long-distance migrants: Birds that typically have ranges that extend from the United States and Canada in the summer to Mexico and further south in the winter.
The pattern of migration can vary within each category, but is most variable in short and medium distance migrants.
Origins of migration
The origin of migration is related to the distance traveled. For short-distance migrants it is as simple as a search for food. The origins of long-distant migration patterns are more complex and include the development of the genetic make-up of the bird.
India is home to many beautiful species of birds local as well as migratory. During winter we find different birds that belong to different regions of the world visiting different places. We also witness these beautiful migratory birds in Orissa during winter.
There are different places in Orissa where migratory birds visit which are briefly discussed below:
Chilika Lake
Chilika Lake bird sanctuary is very popular among tourists. Located near Puri in Orissa, Chilika about 100 km south of Bhubaneswar is the largest brackish water lake in Asia covering an area of over 1,100 sq km. Chilika Lake serves as a bird sanctuary and is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds in India. The pear-shaped Chilika Lake is one of the best bird watching spots in India and it is also considered one of the hotspots of biodiversity in the country and a great attraction for tourists for fishing, bird watching and boating.
Migratory birds from Russia, Mongolia, central and Southeast Asia, Ladakh, the Himalayas, Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea arrive in Chilika Lake ahead of winter. The arrival of the migratory birds has added to the beauty of the placid blue waters of the 1,000 sq km Chilika Lake.
In comparison with other wetlands in India a maximum number of migratory birds are seen in the Chilika lagoon. It is, of course, true that the Keoladeo Ghana bird Sanctuary at Bharatpur in Rajsthan witnesses more species-wise diversity (more than 300) in comparison to Chilika. Duck species visiting Chilika are Pintail, Gadwal, Shoveller, Wigeon, Common pochard, Red-crested pochard, Garganey, Tufteded duck which are mainly seen in Nalabana, Sorana, Mangalajodi, etc. in the Chilika lagoon. Interestingly, it has been observed that out of 84 varieties of shore birds in India above 40 varieties are seen in Chilika during the winter months. Every year about a million migratory water birds from distant places visit flock to the lake in October and return in March.
Rare migratory species
Every winter the scenic status of Chilika is elevated and enhanced with the presence of some rare bird species including the Indian skimmer, Pallas’s fish eagle, Spotbilled pelican, etc. The rare species to Chilika Lake such as Baillon’s crake, Greater crested grebe and Common Shelduck were recorded during the bird count.
Food & Shelter
The vast waterbody and biodiversity are major factors that attract thousands of birds from different regions of the world. Chilika has always been potentially able to provide excellent hospitality to these guests (water birds) with food and shelter.
Mangalajodi
Mangalajodi village is situated on the banks of Chilika Lake in Orissa which is about 70 km from Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Orissa in the eastern part of peninsular India. This is also about 35 km from Balugaon railway station on the Kolkata-Chennai route. This village is on the banks of Chillika Lake and a landscape full of bamboo and mango trees which creates a natural ambience. Travel and visit to this place always ensures a heartful of distinct, incredible and picturesque beauties at different points of time, be it winter, summer or monsoon.
Mangalajodi is a bird paradise. More than 200 species of birds, both resident and migratory, are found in this area of Chilika Lake, the beautiful blue lagoon, at different points of time in a year. The flying architecture of Godwits under bright sunshine is mind-blowing and fabulous. The silver and black clouds appearing alternatively and suddenly at few hundred feet away from one’s boat while on travel mesmerize one’s intrinsic thought of being immersed in the beauty of this part of world.
Mangalajodi has now carved a place in world tourism because of its unique conservation method and the second highest congregation of migratory birds that it witnesses in the world every year.
Mangalajodi rechristened as the “Birds’ Paradise” is the spot for bird photographers. Especially in winter, migration of lakhs of avian wonders to the wetland invites the tourists. This place is also an attractive place for the native tourists from the nearby towns and villages. Thousands of tourists throng to this place.
The birds which have been sighted in the bird paradise are Greylag goose, Ruddy shelduck, Lesser whistling duck, Cotton pygmy goose, Spot-billed duck, Northern pintail, Northern shoveller, Gadwall, Garganey teal, Red-crested pochard, Tufted duck, Eurasian wigeon, Common kingfisher, White-throated kingfisher, Pied kingfisher, Blue-tailed bee eater, Spotted owlet, Laughing dove, Spotted dove, Baillon’s crake, Purple swamphen, Black-tailed godwit, Black-winged stilt, Pheasant tailed jacana, Grey-headed lapwing, Red-wattled lapwing, Brown-headed gull, Brahminy kite, and White-bellied sea eagle.
Places in the lagoon
Hirakud Reservoir
Migratory birds from Mongolia, Iran, Russia and other parts of the northern hemisphere usually visit the Hirakud reservoir every year. As the winter sets in, migratory birds make the Hirakud dam reservoir their temporary abode. Over 50,000 birds of various varieties migrate every year and stay for four months before flying back in the first week of March.
Thousands of migratory birds from far-flung areas including the Caspian Sea, Baikal Lake, Aral Sea, Mongolia, Central and South East Asia and Himalaya region flock to the reservoir in the first week of November every year for winter sojourn. The winged guests stay about five months in the reservoir which forms the largest artificial lake in Asia with an area of 746 sq km and a shoreline of over 640 km.
Nearly 20-25 species of birds are seen in the reservoir and common among them are Common Pochard, Red Crusted Pochard, Great Duck Bill, Spot Bill (Grey Duck), Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Pond Heron, Painted Stork, Whiskered Tern, Indian River Tern, Gadwall, Red Wattled Lapwing and Black Winged Stilt.
Usually, the arrival of birds is enumerated in January every year. As per reports, at least 56,834 birds of 21 varieties visited the reservoir in January 2005 while the number of birds declined to 49,174 of 26 varieties in January 2006. The number declined further to 36,740 of 18 varieties in January 2007 which went down to 22,443 this year.
Nalabana
Nalabana Bird Sanctuary in the island of Nalabana is one of the major attractions of Chilika. The island with a circumference of eight km is a protection site that preserves contrasting species of migratory birds. The sanctuary is home to thousands of migratory and regional bird species and hence a delight for bird lovers. It is a marshy island covered with reeds famous for feeding and roosting of a large-range of migratory birds in winter.
Ansupa Lake
While there has been a significant rise in the number of birds visiting the Ansupa Lake, which is one of the major freshwater lakes situated on the bank of the Mahanadi in Athgarh, city-based Ekamrakanan is also witnessing thousands of birds this season.