Bhubaneswar: Internationally acclaimed birders, photographers and ornithologists along with 200 participants from India and abroad will participate in the second National Chilika Bird Festival to be held at Mangalajodi January 27 and 28.
The two-day event organised by state forest and environment department will have programmes like exhibitions, seminars and visit to Mangalajodi and Nalabana.
Mangalajodi, known as the ‘bird paradise of Asia’, lies in the North Eastern Part of Chilika, the largest brackish water lake of the continent. Millions of migratory birds congregate during different parts of the year at Mangalajodi and the winter witnesses the highest gathering of more than 10 lakh migratory birds.
It is the only place in India where large flocks of different species of colourful birds can be seen from close proximity of boat.
This is not only a place for birders but also a photographer’s paradise in Asia. More than 200 species of birds are recorded in Mangalajodi during winters. Raptors are also seen hunting in different parts of Mangalajodi.
Chilika lies in the Central Asian Flyway for birds and is a major stopover site for migratory birds from the Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions during their onward and return migration along the east coast.
Considering its importance as a major congregation site for migratory waders and ducks and the huge population of birds it supports Chilika has been recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention and has been included in the Ramsar list.
Mangalajodi freshwater wetland and Nalabana Island which form part of the Chilika lake have been identified as Important Bird Areas (IBA).
Mangalajodi is also an interesting episode of wildlife conservation in world. It was once a village of bird poachers.
Over the years gradually population of the migratory birds declined. Sensing danger for their survival, the villagers turned protectors of the landscape and of the winged species.
Knowledge of every detail of the migratory birds – migrating pattern, feeding and breeding habits made the villagers excellent eco-guides for tourists and now all families of Mangalajodi village are earning their livelihood through nature tourism.
They are serving the eco-tourists as boatmen, birder watchers and eco-guides. The villagers also patrol the marshlands since protecting the birds is not only their source of livelihood but also their moral responsibility.
The visitors to the bird festival will get a chance to visit Nalabana Bird Sanctuary, a beautiful island in the heart of Chilika.
Nesting colonies of a variety of colourful birds and raptors are seen here during the winters.
Nalabana and Chilika are the largest breeding grounds of flamingos in the world. National Chilika Bird Festival is the only time when Nalabana is opened for nature lovers of all around the globe.
PNN