Balasore/Baripada: The annual mid-winter waterfowl census was conducted in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts on Wednesday.

The exercise was undertaken near the wetlands and water bodies across various ranges, where avian congregation is seen during peak winter. In Mayurbhanj, the exercise was conducted in the Baripada, Rairangpur and Karanjia forest divisions, while the headcount was undertaken in Kuldhia, Nilgiri, Chandipur and a wetland of the Integrated Test Range at Jaleswar and Soro in Balsore district.

"For maintaining ecological balance, there is a need of existence of all creatures, including birds. The census gives a rough idea about the presence of particular species. The study is also made to know the reason for their migration to a particular place," said Karanjia divisional forest officer Prasanna Kumar Behera.

Baripada divisional forest officer Swayam Malik said: "The census has been completed and pictures captured. Those are being analysed and compiled."

The officers of various forest divisions said the figures would be known after compilation of data received from various ranges. They, however, claimed that endangered, migratory and rare birds, too, were sighted during the census. In Balasore, the census was conducted at Padmatola, Khemkote, Rissia, Bogalibandha, Parikhi, Rupakhand, Kantiachira, Integrated Test Range of the Chandipur campus and the Budhabalanga, Talsari and Subarnarekha river mouths.