According to Behera, this year 79 types of water birds have thronged the Bhitarakanika National Park, one of the abodes of the avian species.

High–Tech GPSs (Global Positioning System) were used by forest officials to count the nesting resident avian species in the ’Bagagahan’ in the park. The wildlife researchers and ornithologists made extensive use of navigational and mapping tools such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) to arrive at a near-accurate estimate of the birds. Permanent transit lines have been put in position using GPS to be used as coordinates in mapping the rivers, creeks and mangrove forests of the park, added Behera.

The Bhitarkanika Forest officials had formed 10 teams for the annual census of birds in the Bhitarkanika National Park. The annual census of birds was carried out under the guidance of the DFO of Rajnagar forest (Mangrove) and Wildlife Division, renowned ornithologists Dr. Gohar Abedin, Ramesh Jhankar, Suvendu Bhattacharya and Biswajit Mohanty, said the Ranger of Rajkanika forest, Durga Prasad Sahu.

The shore bird species like sand piper, plover, ducks, goose, heron, cormorants, spoon bill, egrate, have been seen in the branches of mangroves trees in the dense Bhitarkanika park areas in Barunei Muhana, Chataka, Praharajpur, Bagagahan and Raitapatia, said forest official sources.

Some rare and endangered bird species, which are listed in the Red Data book of International Union Conservation (IUCN), were also sighted during the bird census, informed DFO of Rajnagar, Behera.

According to Behera, the forest officials sighted some rare and endangered bird species like Indian Skimmer, Spoon Bill, Grey Pelican, Brahmin Ducks, Avocet, Godwin, Pintail, painted stork, seagulls, tawny eagle, and osprey, Grey heron, Goliath Heron and Bar-headed Geese during the bird census in the water bodies of Bhitarknaika National park.

According to official sources, Avocet, which is a winter migratory bird species generally coming from cool places in Siberia, were sighted near Raipatia by the forest department during the census. Whereas Bar Headed Geese, which comes from Ladakh, were sighted by the forest department at Chataka. Similarly, a horde of 206 Indian Skimmers were sighted by the forest officials at Barunei. A flock of Brahmin ducks was spotted by the census team at Raitapatia.

After three years, the forest officials have sighted an endangered Rudy King fisher at Bhitarakanika National Park, said forest officials.

It may be recalled that about 1. 31 lakh birds, including migratory feathered guests and residential avian species, were sighted by the Bhitarkanika National Park authority in the annual bird census 2007 which was carried out in the water bodies of the Bhitarkanika National park and its nearby areas from December 8 to 9, said Behera, the DFO. This year the number of winter migratory birds has decreased.

It seems the avian guest prefers the Bhitarkanika environment as a habitat which gives ample indication that the bird species has become a residential one.

Bhitarkanika provides a congenial atmosphere for the birds to settle down for breeding and nesting. The dense mangrove vegetation and its serene pollution free atmosphere have once again proved alluring attractions for thousands of residential and migratory winged visitors.

Birds fly thousands of miles to Bhitarakanika to escape the harsh winter in Siberia, Afghanistan, Iraq, northern Asia and some central European countries. They generally stay in Bhitarakanika for about four months before starting their homeward sojourn from the heronry after nesting and breeding in the park.