Bhubaneswar: The Chilika Lake and Nalbana Bird Sanctuary have become a haven for over 11 lakh birds, with the recent bird count revealing a whopping 11,32,200 birds of 196 species flocking to the area.
The Nalbana Bird Sanctuary alone is hosting 3,97,587 birds of 106 species, marking a significant increase from last year’s numbers. The census, a joint effort by the Chilika Development Authority and Balugaon Wildlife Department, shows a rise of 54,361 birds compared to the previous year.
Some of the most spotted birds include the Northern Pintail (218,993), Eurasian Wigeon (153,318), and Gadwall (143,127). The flamingo count stands at 1,800, adding to the sanctuary’s vibrant avian diversity.
The Balugaon Wildlife Sanctuary, divided into 22 zones across five ranges, saw 130 enumerators participate in the count. The Nalban forest under the Balugaon range recorded the highest bird sightings, followed by Mangalajodi and Bhusandpur under the Tangi range.
