Rising temp forces avian guests to leave Bhitarkanika early

Kendrapada: In a shift that experts attributed to climate change, migratory birds at Bhitarkanika National Park have begun their return journey earlier than usual this year, with mass departures observed this month instead of the traditional mid-March to April timeline.
"The unusually high temperatures this Feb are prompting these early departures," said Manas Das, assistant conservator of forests, Bhitarkanika. According to the IMD, temperatures in the region are hovering around 32 degrees Celsius, around 3-4 degrees above normal for this time of year.
The park, which serves as a winter refuge for birds from Siberia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the Himalayan region, and central Europe, witnessed an impressive turnout this season. The annual bird census recorded 151,614 birds of 118 species, slightly up from last year's count of 151,421 birds of 121 species.
Species like shoveller, pintail, gadwall and common pochard are among the first to depart, while wading birds like lesser whistling duck and redshank continue to linger in the shallow waters. "Migration patterns are strongly linked with air and ocean surface temperatures," Das said, adding that "these above-average temperatures are altering traditional migration schedules".
Bhitarkanika's appeal to migratory birds lies in its abundant fish population, distance from human settlements, and enhanced security measures against poaching, particularly in the Satabhaya wetland. Recent health monitoring efforts have been encouraging, with Dec's surveillance finding no cases of avian flu among the 230 birds tested.
However, conservation experts like Hemant Rout, secretary of Gahirmatha Marine Turtle and Mangrove Conservation Society, pointed out that a 1981 recommendation by renowned ornithologist Salim Ali to declare the area a biosphere reserve remains unimplemented, highlighting the need for stronger conservation measures in light of changing climate.