Birds make Bhitarkanika their monsoon home

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhitarkanika (Odisha), June 26: Residential water birds have made Bhitarkanika their temporary home even as the onset of monsoon has triggered chirpy cacophony along the marshy wetland spots here.The winged species have thronged the heronry here in thousands for their annual nesting and breeding.“The arrival of local migrant birds has reestablished Bhitarkanika as one of the prominent heronries of the state,” said forest officials.“With the commencement of rainy season, local migrant species have arrived in large numbers in Bagagahana heronry for seasonal nesting.They have built nests and laid eggs atop the mangrove trees.Their sojourn would last for three months from now after which they would start their homeward journey,” said Bimal Prasanna Acharya, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) Forest Division.“The monsoon migrant birds are arriving in batches.Their headcount is yet to be made.However, around 15,000 local resident water birds have made their way to dense mangrove cover in Bagagahana,” he said.Lack of human interference, ideal climatic condition, cool breeze and the river system here all have emerged to the liking of these delicate chirpy winged species.It’s pertinent to note here that noted ornithologist Salim Ali made a chance-discovery of Bhitarkanika birds’ habitat while on a casual visit to Bhitarkanika in 1981.