Chilika: The wildlife wing of the Orissa forest department will begin the annual bird census in Chilika January 5, 2019 with the help of Chilika Development Authority (CDA), reports said.
Similarly, the officials will start the census of Dolphin January 19, the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) said in a notification Tuesday.
The exercise in Chilika, Asia’s largest brackish water lake and the largest winter resort for migratory birds in the Indian subcontinent will be undertaken by many special teams including research scholars and bird lovers.
The census will help to ascertain the number of species of birds coming to Chilika and the trends. Officials expected a rise in the number of bird count this year.
As per the notification, the bird census will be held January 5 in Chilika, January 3 in Puri district and the Dolphin census will be conducted January 19.
The counting will take place at around 65 km coastal area from the Devi Mouth of Chilika. A special team will conduct the annual census. A training programme will be provided to the teams January 2.
Every year, the bird counting is conducted at 12 places including Chilika in Puri district. Last year, the State registered total 114 dolphins in Chilika.
PNN