10.74 lakh birds flock to Chilika, largest wintering ground in Indian subcontinent

Odisha deploys 106 personnel for bird counting on the vast waters of the lake.

Chilika Lake, the largest brackish water lake and wintering ground of the birds in the Indian subcontinent, saw a million of birds, including uncommon Mongolian gull, visiting the waterbody this year.

As per the water bird status survey-2022 conducted in the Chilika, a total of 10,74,173 birds of the 107 water bird species and 37,953 individuals of 76 wetland dependent species were counted at the entire lagoon. Last year, the count in Chilika was over 12 lakh. Bird census members reported rare sighting of the uncommon Mongolian gull.

The census was undertaken jointly on Tuesday by the Odisha State Wildlife Organisation, the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and the Bombay Natural History Society. A total of 106 personnel, including bird experts from government and non-government organisations, were deployed. The Chilika Lagoon was divided strategically into 21 segments for the census.