In this year’s annual bird census at Chilika Lake in Odisha, over 1 million birds were recorded, marking an increase from the previous year. The census, conducted by 21 teams across five forest ranges—Balugaon, Chilika, Tangi, Satapada, and Rambha—spanned three districts: Khurda, Puri, and Ganjam. Each team, led by an expert from Chilika Wildlife Division and utilizing the e-Bird app for the first time, meticulously surveyed migratory and domestic birds.

The final tally revealed a remarkable 11,37,759 birds, belonging to 187 species, making Chilika Lake the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia a thriving habitat. This count surpassed the previous year’s census, which recorded 11,31,929 birds. Among the noteworthy sightings was the Pallas Fish Eagle, a rare species not seen in the lake for a decade.

The census team documented various bird species, including 1,40,382 Wilson, 2,18,254 Northern Pintail, 2,18,254 Garhwal, and 1,56,636 Common Kurt birds within the lagoon. These winged guests, predominantly hailing from Russia, Central Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, flock to Chilika Lake during the winter months, finding respite from the harsh cold in their homelands. The abundance of food in the area encourages these migratory birds to engage in breeding and nesting activities, creating a diverse and vibrant ecosystem within the picturesque surroundings of Chilika Lake.