Sambalpur: Hundreds of species of migratory birds have started flocking to Hirakud Dam Reservoir and the nearby areas in Sambalpur district for their winter sojourn.
The first batch of birds has started arriving. The numbers are gradually going to increase, officials said. Thousands of birds of different species have been sighted in the reservoir. The birds were sighted in and outer area of the reservoir.
According to sources, avian species like Common Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Great Duck Bill, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Pond Heron and Painted Stork fly down to the reservoir from Caspian Sea, Baikal Lake, Mongolia, Central and South East Asia and Himalayan region every year due to the presence of large wetland, besides soothing climate and availability of food.
The reservoir usually becomes a haven for these winged visitors that migrate in December end and put up for four months till the end of February. A small number of birds arrives in November, and the number increases from mid-December.
These birds fly from Caspian Sea, Baikal Lake, Aral Sea, Mongolia, Central and South East Asia and Himalayan region during winter to escape the biting cold. Moreover, they get sufficient food here.
“The soothing climate, hills around the reservoir and availability of food attract these birds from far flung areas. Some birds arrive here for breeding during this time,” said a senior forest official.
Stating that adequate arrangements were made for security of the migratory birds, he said staffs were engaged to regularly patrol the area.
Over the years, there has been a gradual rise in the number of winged guests visiting the reservoir, which spans over an area of 746 sq km and has a shoreline of over 640 km.
More than 1.36 lakh migratory birds of 81 species were spotted last year, which was a record of sorts. Similarly, 76,768 birds of 55 species picked the dam for their winter sojourn during 2016-17, while the count was 95,912 birds of 60 species in 2015-16.
Bird lovers have been demanding that the area be declared a Bird Sanctuary to ensure their safety.
PNN