The story of a migratory home

Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, Odisha’s Chilika Lake witnessed a huge increase in the number of feathered guests during this winter. According to the annual bird census, over 7.62 lakh migratory birds have thronged Chilika Lake this year.
“Around 7.62 lakh birds of 172 species visited the blue lagoon this year. It was found during the annual bird count, conducted at 1,100 sq km vast lake,” Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chilika Wildlife Division Bikash Ranjan Dash, said.
The number had decreased in 2013 due to cyclone Phailin, which hit the coastal Odisha, devastating many areas of the state. “Last winter around 7.19 lakh birds of 158 species had visited the lake,” he added.
“Similarly, in 2013 and 2012, around 8.77 lakh of 180 species and 8.83 lakh birds of 167 species respectively had visited the lake. There is no new species of bird sighted in the vast lake during the census,” he said.
There are about four mouths in Chilika including the old Palur mouth. The other three are Gabakunda inlet, Dhalabali inlet and new Phailin inlet (opened after the cyclone Phailin).
The Chilika Lake in Odisha was declared as ‘Destination Flyway’ by the United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) because of its natural treasure and bio-diversity.
“Increase in number of migratory birds in the lake is attributed to the safety measures taken by wildlife authorities and improvement of the habitat in the lake,” said an ornithologist from BNHS, Mumbai. In 2006, contamination of a portion of Chilika Lake around Nalabana Birds Sanctuary has resulted in the deaths of over 1,700 migratory birds within a span of 45 days.
“Chilika is a beautiful place to visit. It has various awe-inspiring destinations like Nalabana, a must place for bird watchers with hundreds of varieties of migratory birds thronging the place every year. There are islands with pristine beaches to recapitulate. On a boat with endless water around you, a dolphin to spot now and then, it is filled with numerous spectacular experiences to have,” said a tourist.
Birds migrate from as far as the Caspian Sea, Baikal Lake and remote regions of Russia, Mongolia and Siberia. The vast mudflat in Nalabana Bird Sanctuary in Chilika Lake provides them adequate feed.
The water body also boasts off about 211 bird species, largest Irrawaddy dolphin population, 217 fish species and more than 30 migratory species, according to an estimate.  At present, about Rs 40 crore per annum is being earned from community-based eco-tourism activities.