Berhampur: In an unusual phenomenon, Greater Flamingos and Spot-Billed Pelicans, migratory birds that typically winter in Chilika Lake from Gujarat and return before summer, have been spotted in large numbers in the blue lagoon despite scorching heat, wildlife officials reported on Saturday.
Unusual Summer Presence
While over 1,000 Greater Flamingos migrated to Chilika last winter, around 200 have remained in the lake even as daytime temperatures range between 33°C and 36°C. Similarly, an equal number of Spot-Billed Pelicans, which arrived in smaller numbers during winter, are still present.
“We have observed these bird species flocking to Chilika, with most concentrated in Nalabana, the wildlife sanctuary within the lake, during peak summer. Improved habitat and food availability might be why they choose to stay,” said Amlan Nayak, Divisional Forest Officer of the Chilika wildlife division.
Reasons for Staying
Sushant Nanda, former wildlife warden of Odisha, attributed the birds’ summer stay to less disturbance in the lagoon and ample food. “Additionally, their return to habitats like the Rann of Kutch and Nalsarovar in Gujarat is hampered by declining water levels in those wetlands. Once monsoon brings plenty of water, these birds will return,” Nanda explained.
Besides these two species, some duck species that migrated last winter have also been spotted this summer, though their exact numbers are unknown, Nayak added.
Tracking Migration
Last year, wildlife officials discovered that two Greater Flamingos fitted with GPS-GSM solar-powered trackers had stayed back in Nalabana. The forest department, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun, attached the trackers to the birds’ legs in January last year to map their migratory routes. The same birds were spotted in the lake last May.
“We are monitoring the migration patterns of these two Greater Flamingos and other activities,” Nayak said.
Winter Bird Count
During last winter, Chilika Lake hosted 11,32,200 birds of 196 species, including 11,10,257 migratory birds (106 species) and 21,943 resident birds (90 species), according to sources.
