Over eight lakh migratory birds, most of them from far-off foreign lands like Siberia, Ireland and Ukraine, have arrived at Orissa’s Chilika lake for their annual winter sojourn to Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon.
According to the joint survey report of the Chilika Development Authority and local Balugaon wildlife division, 8,04,452 avian guests have been sighted in the lagoon this season. Of them, 7,91,738 are from foreign lands and 12,714 from various parts of India.
The prominent species sighted this winter include Gadwall, Northern Pin-tail, Godwit, Common Coot, Shovelers, Openbills and Tufted Ducks . A few delicate birds were also sighted, including the Black-tailed Godwit, Lesser Whistling Duck, Grey Plover, Egrets, Oriental Darters, White-bellied Sea Eaglesand Black-necked Storks.
Bird lovers, however, are unhappy because the current year’s numbers are 13 per cent less than last year, which saw 9,24,578 migratory birds. Increased human
interference and illegal poaching seem to account for the gradual decline. At least four poachers were arrested earlier this month while shooting birds inside the prohibited area. The lake had registered a record arrival of 15,13,578 birds in 2002.
Some winged visitors are rare and endangered. Indian Skimmers, Grey Pelicans and White-backed Vultures, Lesser Adjutants and Greater Spotted Eagles, all sighted, are in the endangered category under the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
At least 169 species of birds were seen during the survey. The numbers of foreign and domestic species were recorded at 103 and 66, respectively.
Ideal climatic conditions, a cool breeze and innumerable rivers and streams emptying into the lake make it a suitable place. Only two White-wing Blacks, three Sandpipers, four Jack Snipes and six Water Rails were found.
As many as 17 teams led by experts such Dr S. Balchandran of the Bombay Natural History Society and Dr Venu Gopa of the National Museum of History, Prof. N.K. Bhujbal, Dr Biswajit Mohanty, Prof. Sudhakar Kar and Chandrasekhar Kar, Dr G. Abedin and others carried out the survey.