Bhitarkanika 3-Day Bird Census Starts from Aug 30, Tourists Barred During Survey
Kendrapara: Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha’s famed mangrove haven, will go silent for tourists from August 30 to September 1 as forest officials will conduct a three-day bird census focused on colonial nesting birds.
The survey, led by the Rajnagar Wildlife Division, will cover four key nesting sites, Matha Dia, Laxmiprasad Dia, Durgaprasad Dia, and Bali Dia, spread across the Kanika and Rajnagar ranges. These isolated mangrove islands are vital breeding grounds for several species of herons, egrets, and cormorants.
Apartfrom headcount it’s a specialised estimation to assess nesting behaviour, habitat health, and bird population trends.
hree teams, each with seven trained members, will fan out across the wetlands and forested riverbanks, particularly around the Brahmani River, to conduct the survey. Officials aim to gather data critical to conservation efforts in one of India’s richest estuarine ecosystems.
To ensure accuracy and minimise disturbances, tourist entry into the park will be suspended for the duration of the census.
Bhitarkanika, a Ramsar site, is home to over 320 species of birds, and the annual census helps monitor the health of its fragile wetland ecosystem and avian population.
