Odisha forest thrown open for public to catch glimpse of avian species

Authorities of Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha’s Bargarh district have provided an opportunity to lovers of avian species to embark on a 2-km-long ‘birding trail’ to catch a glimpse of nesting feathered guests amid the warmth of nature.

The forest cover which is home to nesting birds to mark the observance of wildlife week has been thrown open for the public. It is a dedicated birding trek for nature enthusiasts, children and youth. The trek passes through innumerable water-inlets, streams, grasslands and dense forest patches of Debrigarh, said Anshu Pragyan Das, Divisional Forest Officer Hirakud Wildlife Division.

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It is providing the trekkers opportunity to see ground nesting birds as well as standing trees housing the nesting birds.

Small part of the trail is along the Hirakud Wetland so waders can also be spotted. Birding Trail – Debrigarh Sanctuary is home to more than 340 species of birds around the year and more than 110 species of birds are sighted in Hirakud Wetland every winter, she said.

42 display boards (Information Board) with information on 42 commonly seen but important birds of Debrigarh have been erected along the trail with details like name, life span, call, behavior, habit, nesting pattern, diet and other interesting facts to learn more about birds and for identification.

A small movie with calls of individual birds (for identification), with all kinds of calls – mating call, distress call, contact calls etc. has been made for bird identification easy through bird- vocalizations.

Every melodians call or song which we hear from birds has a specific meaning.

Some calls are also linked to territorial defence, mobbing calls, counter singing & social communication.

Birding trail at Debrigarh with the trained naturalists will enable every common man to identify the bird species and learn more about Birds.

Bird population in the world is around 400 billion individuals i.e. 6 birds for every human. Birds outnumber the number of humans on earth, but very few people know about them, the senior forest official said.

Bird watching enhances stillness and focus in human beings. Besides, it strengthens patience & mindfulness. Observing other living creatures like birds fosters empathy to other forms of life.

Nature has surrounded us with birds; they are present everywhere, in cities, townships, industrial belts, in our backyards, each tree is home to at least 10 varieties of bird species but hardly we know or identify them, Das concluded.