8.58 lakh winged guests throng Chilika this winter

BHUBANESWAR: Over 8.58 lakh migratory birds have thronged Odisha’s Chilika Lake this winter, according to the bird census report that was released on Monday.

Last year over 7.61 lakh migratory birds were sighted in Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lake and the largest winter resort for migratory birds in the Indian subcontinent.

However, some bird species have come down this year, said Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) S.S. Srivastava.

He said while 172 bird species were sighted last year, this winter 161 species have arrived in the lake.

The PCCF said due to climatic changes including deficient rainfall and high temperature, the number of species may have decreased this year.