The annual bird census at the Hirakud reservoir began early on Sunday at 5:30 am, with survey teams entering the water body by boat and continuing their work until evening.
To ensure systematic coverage, officials divided the vast reservoir into 21 sectors this year and deployed 32 teams to conduct the count. A total of 92 participants took part in the exercise, including 37 bird experts, 40 forest department personnel, and 15 students from schools and colleges. Of these, 77 participants were specialists and forest officials.
Wildlife Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Anshu Pragnya Das said all participants were provided with life jackets and advanced binoculars to maintain safety and improve accuracy during the survey. Each team consisted of two to three members, including professors, environmentalists, and bird enthusiasts from different parts of Odisha.
Tourism activities at the Hirakud reservoir were suspended for the day to allow the census to be conducted smoothly. The exercise also served as an educational opportunity for students, who gained practical exposure to bird species identification, census techniques, and the importance of wildlife conservation.
Last year’s census recorded 122 bird species and a total of 3,77,732 birds, including both resident and migratory birds. Experts are optimistic about this year’s count and expect a record number of avian visitors, with the possibility of identifying new species in the Hirakud wetlands.
Environmentalists said the census is crucial for tracking migratory trends and strengthening long-term conservation efforts, and they are eagerly awaiting the final results.
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