NRIs enjoy bird watching at Chilika
Berhampur: Around 60 people, predominantly NRIs, participated in a guided bird-watching tour at Chilika lake on Tuesday. The event is a part of the week-long National Chilika Bird Festival that commenced Monday.
The festival will coincide with the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), scheduled to begin Wednesday in Bhubaneswar, drawing Indian diaspora from across the globe.
On the first day, visitors explored Mangalajodi, the lake’s second-largest congregation site for migratory birds. Chilika wildlife division and Chilika Development Authority (CDA) facilitated the tour with 30 decorated private boats and red carpet welcome for the guests.
“We have made all necessary arrangements for smooth bird watching. Visitors not only observed various bird species but also enjoyed the scenic beauty of the blue lagoon,” said Amlan Nayak, divisional forest officer, Chilika.
An NRI bird enthusiast from the US said, “Though I had heard about Chilika being a paradise for birds, witnessing it with my own eyes was remarkable. Seeing various species swimming freely while chirping was truly enjoyable.”
The visitors will tour Nalabana, the lake’s primary wildlife sanctuary and bird congregation area, on Wednesday.
Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lake, attracts millions of migratory birds annually. The winter visitors typically begin their return journey by mid-March, before the onset of summer.
The festival will coincide with the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), scheduled to begin Wednesday in Bhubaneswar, drawing Indian diaspora from across the globe.
On the first day, visitors explored Mangalajodi, the lake’s second-largest congregation site for migratory birds. Chilika wildlife division and Chilika Development Authority (CDA) facilitated the tour with 30 decorated private boats and red carpet welcome for the guests.
“We have made all necessary arrangements for smooth bird watching. Visitors not only observed various bird species but also enjoyed the scenic beauty of the blue lagoon,” said Amlan Nayak, divisional forest officer, Chilika.
An NRI bird enthusiast from the US said, “Though I had heard about Chilika being a paradise for birds, witnessing it with my own eyes was remarkable. Seeing various species swimming freely while chirping was truly enjoyable.”
The visitors will tour Nalabana, the lake’s primary wildlife sanctuary and bird congregation area, on Wednesday.
Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lake, attracts millions of migratory birds annually. The winter visitors typically begin their return journey by mid-March, before the onset of summer.
