over 10,000 migratory birds reach Orissa national park
October 27th, 2011 - 8:13 pm ICT by IANSBhubaneswar, Oct 27 (IANS) At least 10,000 migratory birds from places as far as Siberia and Iraq have arrived in the Bhitarkanika National Park in Orissa’s Kendrapara district, an official said Thursday.
The birds which have been sighted during the last two days include brahmani ducks, whistling teal, cotton teal and shelduck, Divisional Forest Officer Manoj Mohapatra told IANS.
The total number of migratory birds would be at least 10,000. Gradually their numbers will grow and will pick in December, he said.
The highest concentrations of birds so far were found at Satabhaya and Bagapatia areas of the park, he said.
The Bhitarkanika National Park, which is also a wildlife sanctuary, is located about 170 km from Bhubaneswar. It is home to over 200 species of birds, including 98 species of migratory birds.
The sanctuary found a mention in the Guinness World Records in 2006 with its 23-foot-long saltwater crocodile listed as the largest in the world. It is also widely known as the world’s largest rookery of Olive Ridley sea turtles.
Every year, more then a million migratory birds from places as far as Siberia and Iraq flock to various sites of Orissa in October and return in March.
In 2008, the number of birds sighted in the park was 101,293 while in 2009 the number was 105,949. Last year, the number dropped to 45,610.
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- Migratory birds are flying back home from Odisha - Feb 17, 2012
- Europe freeze extends India sojourn of migratory birds - Feb 16, 2012
- Bhitarkanika bans tourist entry as crocodiles breed - May 15, 2012
- Over 4.5 lakh migratory birds wintering at Chilika Lake - Jan 12, 2011
- HOLD Migratory birds sighted in Orissa lake - Nov 02, 2010
- 14 arrested for fishing in Orissa's Chilika Lake - Nov 27, 2009
- Signals from a ruddy shelduck in Pong wetlands - Mar 23, 2011
- Freezing wetlands force migratory birds to move out - Dec 20, 2011
- Migratory birds sighted in Orissa lake - Nov 04, 2010
- Tagged birds return to Pong wetlands from China - Dec 27, 2011
- IUCN to inspect Himachal national park next year - Dec 17, 2011
- Migratory birds start arriving at Orissa's Chilika Lake - Oct 20, 2009
- Two held for killing migratory birds - Jan 07, 2011
- Decline in number of winged visitors to Delhi zoo - Dec 21, 2010
Tags: bhubaneswar, crocodile, ducks, flock, forest officer, guinness world records, iraq, migratory birds, number of birds, olive ridley sea turtles, orissa, ridley sea turtles, rookery, saltwater crocodile, sea turtles, siberia, species of birds, turtles, wildlife sanctuary