A total of 8,94,390 birds of 147 species were spotted in 1,100 sq km Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Asia this year in comparison to 9,47,000 birds of 167 species last year.

Over 100 persons comprising officials of wildlife organisations, several ornithologists, wildlife activists, and bird lovers were engaged in bird counting in Chilika, Balugaon, Satpada, Tangi and Rambha range under Khurda forest division and Brahmagiri and Nuapada range under Puri forest division.

Similarly, bird counting in three forest divisions of Mayurbhanj district has begun from yesterday. Forest personnel have been engaged to undertake the census at more than 100 wetlands in Baripada, Rairangpur and Karanjia forest divisions. A complete report on bird counting will be announced on January 9, said sources.

Winged guests from far off places like the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, remote parts of Russia, Central and South East Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas descend on Chilika and other wetlands in Odisha every winter for feeding and roosting.