BHUBANESWAR: The recent forest fires across the State and rise in February temperature could be the effect of the climate change and global warming. Migratory birds coming to Orissa are affected too by these phenomena, going by their number.
The comparative analysis of bird census of 2007, 2008 and 2009 in the Chandaka Dampara Sanctuary indicates that the rise in temperature and reduced duration of winter have ‘possibly’ changed the behaviour pattern of the winged guests.
Though the site is very small in comparison to the visiting bird population, experts feel that loss of bamboo clumps in one of the major points of their congregation — Kumarkhunti, after the submergence of the area in a minor irrigation project — could have influenced their arrival pattern, especially in case of lesser whistling ducks.
According to the census data, in 2007 there were 35,615 visitors with lesser whistling ducks 16,213, brahminy ducks 2,100, pin tails 2,218 and purple swamphen 2,102.
While the Mahanadi river bed had 10,488 visitors, Jharia got 3,681, Kajalagada 2,885, Kusupangi 4,139 visitors and Ekamrakanan 13,544 birds.
In 2008, 35,794 birds arrived with lesser whistling ducks numbering 17,192, little cormorants 1,259, northern solvers 1,608, purple swamphens 2,448 and moor hen 1,335. While the Mahanadi river bed had 6,211 population, Jaria had 7,044, Charigharia 2,365, Kusupangi 3,876, Kumarkhunti 2,982 and Ekamrakanan got 12,927.
However, according to DFO Akshaya Patnaik, the 2009 census carried out in January 14-15 has found out that the total migratory birds arrived were just 12,229.
"While Ekamrakanan had a 8,610 population, Mahanadi basin had 561, Charigharia 640 and Kumarkhunti 550. Also the number of lesser whistling ducks was just 5,551, brahminy ducks 206, common teals 1,739, northern sovlers 2, moor hen 54, little cormorants 189 and pin tails 31," found the census report.
According to honorary wildlife warden, Puri, Gohar Abedin, besides the global warming and climate change ‘possibilities’, the loss of resting site on bamboo clumps in Kumarkhunti could be a major reason for the ‘fall’.
However, he clarified that on earlier occasions many birds were perhaps not identified properly, so there was much confusion regarding their numbers adding that in the 2009 census ‘we have tried to eliminate those errors to the maximum possible extent.’