Bhubaneswar, Jan 18: As a part of the ongoing annual bird census across Odisha, the forest officials and expert teams have launched the counting of winged guests at various places.
Each team have been provided with binoculars, two-way radio sets, global positioning system (GPS) sets and other equipment to carry out the task.
A mock drill was conducted on Friday to prepare for the upcoming bird census, followed by specialized training for experts. The census focused on three key regions: Chilika Lake, Bhitarkanika National Park, and Hirakud Dam, all of which are critical due to their rich bird populations.
As many as, 21 teams have been designated for Chilika and Hirakud, with 18 teams allocated to Bhitarkanika. Each team consists of an ornithologist, forest personnel, and 5-6 additional members to ensure thorough coverage.
Chilika Lake is being surveyed across five distinct areas: Balugaon, Satapada, Nuapada, Tangi, and Rambha. Meanwhile, the Hirakud Dam survey is covering an expansive 550 square kilometers, with 32 teams working diligently on the ground. The census is scheduled to run until 6:00 pm today.
Worth mentioning, 1,137,759 birds from 187 different species were counted at the Chilika Lake, which spans 1,100 square kilometers.
