Balugaon: The migratory birds, which had flocked to Chilika lake for their winter sojourn, have started their homeward journey, a senior forest official said.
With the rise in temperature over a couple of days, the feathered guests are flying out of Chilika after spending four to five months in the largest brackish water lake.
Although thousands of birds led by the eldest have started their return trip, there are still several flocks who have not yet gone. All the birds might return in the last week of this month after a further rise in temperature, the DFO said.
Every year, during winter, Chilika turns colourful as migratory birds come here flying thousands of miles to escape the harsh winter in Siberia, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Asia and Central Europe due to easy availability of food and safety.
Last winter, the winged guests were on their way back in the second week of February with sudden rise in the day temperature.
“Though temperature has increased during daytime, nights are still cold. This might be one of the reasons for some of the migratory birds to spend some more days in Chilika.
As many as 10,47,968 birds of 147 different species visited the lake during this winter. The sprawling Nalabana bird sanctuary hosted 3,93,541 birds this winter.
The birds, mainly the duck species, were seen in new areas like Parikuada, Krushna Prasad and some other places in the lake after demolition of prawn gheries (farms) there.
The birds might have flocked to new places in the lake due to lack of human activities after the eviction of the prawn farms.
Avian species, mostly from beyond the Himalayas, northern Eurasia, the Caspian region, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Lake Baikal and the northern regions of Russia and its neighbouring countries visit the lake every winter and return before the onset of the summer.
PNN
