KORAPUT: The reservoirs in Koraput are playing host to a new group of visitors, the migratory birds, that have thronged these places in large number this year. Intense cold wave in Koraput district has attracted these avian guests in droves.
Enthused with the arrival of a large number of birds, the forest officials launched an enumeration drive in Upper Kolab, Machkund and Damanjodi's red pond under Koraput forest division and spotted as many as 10,000 birds of both local and foreign species. These include over 1,600 Siberian birds which have travelled over 5,000 kms to the reservoirs, skipping the regular sites in other parts of the country.
In the past, the number of migratory birds was limited to a few hundreds in these areas. “We are strictly monitoring the bird numbers, particularly foreign birds, in our locations”, said an officer under Koraput Forest Division.
Most of the winged guests are Siberian ducks which are commonly sighted at Nalabana in Chilika lake in Ganjam district.
The arrival of birds has also pushed up the tourism potential.
The reservoirs at Kolab and Machkund have turned into hot tourist destinations in past two weeks. “We are getting a good number of visitors these days who are interested to venture into reservoir and have a glimpse of birds," said Rajani Mishra, an engineer of Kolab Reservoir.