Over 70,000 monsoon birds arrive at Bhitarkanika National Park for nesting & breeding

Kendrapara, July 12 (UNI) With monsoon active in Odisha, thousands of residential birds have arrived at the Matha-Adia, Durgaprasad Dia, and Laxmiprasad Dia heronries within Bhitarkanika National Park for the annual monsoon breeding and nesting season.

According to Manas Kumar Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Kanika Forest Division, around 70,000 residential birds have recently been spotted at these heronries.

Prominent species among the arrivals include Open-billed Storks, Black-headed White Ibises, Purple Herons, Grey Herons, Pond Herons, and Little Cormorants. The birds are drawn to the region’s dense mangrove forests and its serene, pollution-free environment, which continue to serve as an ideal habitat for nesting.

Each year, 11 species of residential birds flock to Bhitarkanika National Park during the monsoon for breeding. These include Open-billed Stork,Little Cormorant,Intermediate Egret,Large Egret, Little Egret, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Night Heron,Darter, White Ibis and Cattle Egret.

These birds typically construct their nests on specific mangrove trees, including Guan, Sundari, Sinduka, Bani, Jagula, Keruan, and Oruan.

The Matha-Adia, Durgaprasad Dia, and Laxmiprasad Dia heronries have become long-established and favoured nesting grounds for these birds. However, ACF Das noted that, once again, the birds have avoided the Bagagahan Heronry, which was once a prime location for monsoon species.

During the 2024 annual residential bird census, enumerators recorded 1,30,123 birds across ten species.

Last year, 27,282 nests were identified on 1,300 mangrove trees, with the highest concentration found in Laxmiprasad Dia during the current monsoon season.