Kendrapara, Sept 3: The annual bird census has begun at Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district, with forest officials starting a four-day exercise to record the number and variety of birds across the sanctuary.
The census began on Thursday and will continue until Sunday. Counting teams are conducting the survey every day from 6 AM to 12 PM, documenting different native and migratory avian species found across various locations of Bhitarkanika.
This year, forest officials have deployed teams comprising around 250 personnel for the bird survey. The exercise will cover around 16 varieties of local avian species, including Gendalia, Dabentia, Anjana, Khaira, Waterhen, Middle Egret, Little Egret, Rani Bag, Kapar Khai and Andharia Bag, among others.
The census is aimed at assessing the bird population and tracking the presence of different species in the national park. The findings will also help forest authorities understand changes in bird numbers and support future conservation measures.
With Bhitarkanika serving as an important habitat for a wide range of birds, the annual census is closely watched by wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists.
