More than 4.21 lakh birds flocked to the Hirakud reservoir in Odisha’s Sambalpur district this winter, marking a significant rise compared to previous years.
According to officials, the annual bird census conducted at the reservoir recorded 4,21,763 birds from 128 species, including five species sighted for the first time. The survey covered 5.72 square kilometres of the power channel area, extending up to the Chhattisgarh border.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Hirakud Wildlife Division, Anshu Pragyan Das, said the most abundant species counted during the census were the Tufted Duck (71,273), Lesser Whistling Duck (60,987) and Common Coot (51,665).
The five new species recorded this year were Ruddy Crake, Greater Painted-Snipe, Painted Stork, Little Gull and Sanderling, she added.
The Annual Mid-Winter Waterfowl Census-2026 was conducted on January 18 by the Hirakud Wildlife Division. A total of 93 participants, including bird experts, forest officials, representatives from non-governmental organisations and school students, took part in the exercise.
Every year, the Hirakud reservoir becomes a seasonal habitat for thousands of migratory birds arriving from regions such as the Caspian Sea, Baikal Lake, Aral Sea, Mongolia, Central and Southeast Asia, and the Himalayan region, typically between November and March.
Officials noted that the bird population has shown steady growth in recent years. Last winter, the reservoir hosted over 3.77 lakh birds from 122 species, while in 2024, around 3.42 lakh birds belonging to 113 species were recorded.
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