Arrival of migratory birds at Chilika lake in Odisha delayed

Arrival of migratory birds at Odisha's Chilika lake, biggest waterfowl habitat in country, has been delayed this year, a senior official said.  avian guests generally reach lagoon by first week of October every year. However, this year, y are yet to flock lagoon or Nalaban, bird sanctuary inside lake, he said. "At present, sanctuary area is submerged, while water level of lake is high due to rain. Migratory birds may face difficulty in finding food in inundated island. This might be one of causes for ir delay in arrival," said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chilika Wildlife Division, Samrat Gowda. DFO, however, said some birds were seen hovering over lake without landing on it.

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"Expect arrival in large numbers by end of October," says DFO

"y might throng lake once water level recedes. We expect m to arrive in large numbers by end of this month," he said. Ornithologists and wildlife experts said delay in arrival of birds was t due to impact of cyclone Fani that hit Odisha coast on May 3. "n-availability of food and incessant rain might have caused delay," said former chief conservator of forests Sudhakar Mohapatra. Food availability and favourable wear conditions are some of factors that play a significant role in attracting migratory birds to Chilika, he ded. With sighting of migratory birds on shores of lake and in sky, wildlife division has taken steps to protect winged guests from poachers. "We have set up 19 temporary camps in lake and two mobile ones in area to keep a vigil on poachers," DFO said. A control room is also operating round--clock at division office to monitor poaching activities, he ded. Some 10,47,868 birds of 161 different species h thronged lake last winter.

migratory birds come to Chilika mostly from rrn Eurasia, Caspian region, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Lake Baikal and or remote areas of Russia begin ir homeward journey before onset of summer. 

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