Rare White-bellied Sea Eagle's nests spotted in Bhitarkanika

Kendrapada, Sep 6 (UNI) The nests of rare and endangered white- bellied Sea Eagle were recently sighted inside the forests of Bhitarkanika National Park (BNP) here.

BNP Divisional Forest Officer A K Jena said more than 17 nests were spotted by the officials inside the park.

He said this rare species of Eagle, Heliaeetus leucogaster, is enlisted in the Scheduled-I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and generally nests on tall trees of Casuarinas, Bani and Keruan.

Sources said each nest enriches with two eggs and the hatchlings take about a month time to emerge from the eggs.

The Sea Eagle has a white patch on its head, rump and under parts with dark grey patches on the back and wings. The black flight feathers on the wings could be easily viewed from below when the bird is in flight.

Appart from the coastal areas of Orissa, West Bengal, Andaman and Andhra Pradesh, the species is also found in New Guinea, Indonesia, China and South East Asia.

Mr Jena said this huge bird mainly feeds on aquatic animals like fish and sea snakes but it also feeds on birds and mammals too.

''It is a skilled hunter and will attack the prey up to the size of a swan,'' he added.

In past some of these birds were also sighted in parts of Gahirmatha coast of Barunei, Ekakula and Khola.

Last year the forest officials of Bhitarkanika have sighted a couple of nests at Bagagahan in Bhitarkanika National Park.

UNI