Subhechcha Ganguly 
Early on Friday morning, the annual bird census in the renowned backwaters of Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha’s Kendrapara district got underway. According to sources, the head counting exercise started about 5:30 AM and would last until 1:30 PM. For the purpose of counting the migratory birds in the National Park, up to 17 teams have been sent out. Five ranges of the National Park are currently doing the annual census. The census is anticipated to be conducted by the counting teams in the neighbouring national park regions of Raipatia, Satabhayagheri, Satabhaya Bisarna Adrabhumi, Jambhu, Batighara, Barunei Muhana, Praharajpur, Kansaripatia, Khola, Naliapatia, Durgapuramuhana, and others.
For the annual counting, the teams were well-prepared with boats, walkie-talkies, binoculars, cameras, and GPS scales.
In contrast, the Bhitarkanika National Park will be closed for an additional 11 days starting on January 4 in order to conduct a crocodile census. Starting on January 4 and lasting through January 14, the national park will be closed.
The crocodile census has also been deployed with teams. As part of their efforts to ensure a smooth and interference-free census survey, the authorities have closed the park.
The census started around 5:30 AM and will last until 1:30 PM, according to Adhar Kumar Behera, the in-charge divisional forest officer for Rajnagar. “We are hopeful that the census programme will be successful and there is a rise in the number of winged guests in the national park this year,” he added. There are at least 17 teams, each with 4-6 players. They received all the necessary technical training, and he continued, “I hope the census offers good news for bird and wildlife lovers.
