Rare birds sighted in Chilka lake after a long gap

Bhubaneswar, Jan 17 (UNI) After a long gap at least seven rare species of migratory birds were sighted in this winter in Chilka lake, the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, also considered as international importance of wetland for water fowl habitat.

A recent bird survey carried out in the lake revealed that Indian skimmers, Baillole's Crake, Palal's fish eagle, Broad Billed Sand Piper, Great stone Glover, Common Shell Duck and Spot Billed Pelican, all considered as most endangered and rare were sighted.

This winter as many as 171 species, including 107 migratory birds, were spotted by the team which divided into 17 zones to undertake the survey on the lake spread over 1100 sq kms with a 32 km long outer channel connecting the lagoon with the sea.

According to Chilka Divisional Forest Officer A Behera, this year over 8.39 lakhs birds had arrived the lake, a hot spot of biodiversity with unique floral and faunal composition.Last year a little over 6.7 lakhs bird had visited the lake during the winter.

Mr Behera said while 1.98 lakh birds were seen congregating near the Nalban Bird sanctuary, spread of over 15 sq km inside the Chilka Lake, the rest numbering over six lakhs were spotted on the periphery of the lake.

The migratory bird congregation inside the Nalaban has been reduced in compare to the last year's arrival.An estimated 2.58 lakhs bird were spotted inside the bird sanctuary last year.

Wildlife experts attributed the fall of the birds population inside the Nalbana bird sanctuary to the early receding of water level inside the sanctuary which forced to the migratory birds to move to periphery where water level was conducive for the water fowl to concentrate and stay for nesting and breeding.

During January 2003,the bird population in Nalabana was recorded as high as 4.5 lakhs when nearly 8 lakh birds frequented Chilika Lake during the season.

A decline in the population of birds inside the Nalbana bird sanctuary has prompted the wildlife experts to conduct a hydrological analysis of the Nalabana sanctuary.

UNI