Rare White Bellied Sea Eagle nests sighted in Bhitarkanika

Kendrapada, Jul 25 (UNI) As many as 16 nests of white Bellied Sea Eagle, a rare and endangered bird species, have been sighted by the forest officials inside the Barunei forest of Bhitarakanika National Park.

According to Divisional Forest Officer P K Behera the White Bellied Sea Eagle, enlisted in the Scheduled -1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972, generally nests on tall trees like Casuarinas, Bani and Keruan.

The bird generally nests during rainy season and each nest is enriched with two eggs. The hatchlings would take about one month to emerge from the eggs.

The bird has white on the head, rump and under parts and dark gray on the back and wings. In flight, the black flight feathers on the wings are easily seen when the bird is viewed from below.

Their loud ''goose-like'' honking call is a familiar sound, particularly during the breeding season. In addition to coastal areas of India particularly in Orissa, West Bengal, Andaman and Andhra Pradesh, the species is found in New Guinea, Indonesia, China, South East Asia, the DFO said.

The White Bellied Sea Eagle, had been sighted in past in the Gahirmatha coast of Ekakula and Khola. During the last year the forest officials have sighted a couple of nests at Bagagahan inside the Bhitarkanika National Park.

UNI XC-DP KK SW HS1831