Kendrapada: Amid the monsoon, a large number of resident birds have started flocking to the mangrove forests in Bhitarkanika National Park recently for nesting.
“Over 10 species of resident birds, like the open-billed stork, little cormorant, median egret, large egret, purple heron, grey heron, darter, white ibis and cattle egret have already arrived.Watching these birds make and mend nests, collect green branches for building and repairing the nests, lay, incubate, hatch eggs, feed fledglings, guard them from predators and cover them with their wings to protect them from the sun and downpour is a sight to behold. One can also witness the newborns coming out of their nests. Many mangrove and other trees are tightly packed together with the nests of thousands of birds. The nests are made of reeds piled together loosely and are set on a foundation of water weeds heaped high to keep the eggs from getting wet,” Manas Das, assistant conservator of forests of the park, said. “Non-breeding males and females can also be spotted foraging for food in the area,” he added.
During winter as well, migratory birds arrive in the park from far-off places beyond the Himalayas. “Abundant fish in the river and creeks and distance from human habitation have made it a suitable and congenial breeding place for thousands of birds. When assured of enough food, hundreds of birds start mating,” Das added.
Last year, 1,23,867 birds belonging to 10 species arrived in Bhitarkanika during monsoon. In 2022, around 1,16,070 resident birds were sighted in Bhitarkanika during the rainy season.

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