Kendrapada: The annual colonial water bird census at Bhitarkanika National Park recorded a marginal rise in the bird population this year, with 1,32,279 birds, including 76,151 chicks, counted across 10 species, a forest official said on Friday.
The population increased from 1,30,796 birds recorded in 2025, indicating a modest improvement in the breeding population of water birds in the national park.
The Asian Open-billed Stork continued to dominate the colonies, with 16,111 nests and 78,925 birds recorded during the census. Other species sighted included Black-headed Ibis, Purple Heron, Large Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Little Cormorant, Black-crowned Night Heron and Darter.
The census covered water bodies and mangrove habitats around the Mathadia, Laxmiprasaddia, Durgaprasaddia and Balidia heronries.
According to forest officials, Bhitarkanika’s abundant fish resources, extensive network of creeks and relatively limited human interference provide favourable conditions for the breeding of thousands of water birds.
