Winter guests enjoy Chilika hospitality

Many of the winged guests, who had flown to the biggest waterfowl habitat in the country of Chilika during winter, were seen staying on in the lake this summer, despite the mercury hovering around 40 degrees Celsius in the region. As many as 77,609 birds of 75 species were found to be staying in the about 1100-sq km lake, according to the summer bird count conducted by the wildlife division of the forest department on Wednesday. These included many migratory birds. The number of birds staying on in the lake this summer was found to be higher than the previous year. Last summer, there were 41,259 birds of various species taking shelter in the lake, sources said. The high flock of birds in the lake during summer months indicates they have adapted very well to the weather, said a senior forest officer. "The Chilika is not only a paradise for birds during winter, the blue lagoon is considered a safe heaven for them during all seasons," said Chilika wildlife divisional forest officer B P Acharya. Strict protection is also one of the reasons for the birds overstaying in the lake, Acharya said. A noted ornithologist, Acharya, however, said many of the birds remained at the lake as they were unable to fly back due to health reasons. "Every year, several sick birds, who are unable to fly back to their own countries, remain at the lake," he said. Last winter, 8.83 lakh waterfowls of 169 species had flown to the lake, sources said. Winged guests, mostly from northern Eurasia, Caspian region, Siberia, Kazakh, Lake Baikal and the remote areas of Russia and neighboring countries, visit Chilika every winter. Migratory species like pelican, open billed stork, painted stork and little cormorant were found overstaying in the lake. More birds are found in Badagotha and Mangalajodi areas in the lake than the Nalabana bird sanctuary area in summer, the DFO said. State forest minister Debi Prasad Mishra, who conducted a review of Chilika wildlife recently, advised officials to take steps for further improvement of the habitat so that more and more birds are attracted to the lake.