Burla: The annual counting of birds at Hirakud’s reservoir in Sambalpur district started Friday morning from 6.00am and will continue till 5.00pm, a senior forest official informed.
As many as 38 teams comprising staff from Sambalpur, Bargarh and Jharsuguda forest divisions have been engaged in the enumeration drive. Both domestic and migratory birds at Hirakud reservoir area and in power channel will be counted.
The census drive will be supported by 17 expert ornithologists.
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“Bird census which is underway at Hirakud reservoir covers an area of around 533 square kilometer and the power channel has an area of about 5.7 533 square kilometer. The reservoir has been divided into 18 sectors and the power channel has been divided into three sectors. 30 boats have been deployed for the movement of census teams in aquatic areas to carry out the survey work,” the official stated.
Annual bird census this year will include Sukhasoda for the first time covering 38 square kilometre on Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. Census report of domestic and migratory birds will be revealed January 9.
It is pertinent to mention, a total number of 1,24,864 birds of as many as 98 species thronged the Hirakud dam’s reservoir last year. Out of which 1,03,117 birds of 41 species were migratory winged guests.
PNN