Early departure of migratory birds from Bhitarakanika National Park due to rising temperature
Published By : Chinmaya Dehury
| February 25, 2025 3:45 PM
Kendrapara, Feb 25: The early onset of summer and a sudden rise in temperatures in Odisha have caused migratory birds to begin their journey back home from Bhitarakanika National Park, where they had stayed for about two months during the winter, officials reported on Tuesday.
In the last week of December, these birds flocked to Bhitarkanika, the second-largest mangrove forest in India, after the Sundarbans, to escape the harsh cold of distant regions beyond the Himalayas. However, this year’s unexpected rise in temperatures and the early arrival of summer have prompted the birds to leave earlier than usual.
In previous years, their departure typically took place in March or April, said a forest official.
The migratory birds, which flew in from places like Siberia, have been leaving Bhitarkanika in batches almost daily.
"Typically, they migrate by mid-March, but the unusually high temperatures in February have accelerated their departure this year," said the forest official.
This year, more than 1.51 lakh migratory birds, representing 118 different species, had made Bhitarkanika their temporary home.
