A Pied Crested Cuckoo, popularly known as Chatak, near Kuakhai riverbed in Balianta block on the outskrits of Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, June 6: Ecologists here have sighted the Pied Crested Cuckoo near Kuakhai riverbed in Balianta block on the outskirts of the city.

According to Hindu mythology, the migratory bird, commonly known as Chatak, is known as the harbinger of monsoon. Its arrival is an indicator of the timely onset of monsoon.

The pied crested cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) is a member of the cuckoo family of birds seen in both Asian and African nations. The medium-sized birds can be easily identified because of their distinct black and white colour. Apart from the Kuakhai river, these birds were also spotted on National Highway 5 near Hanspal bridge.

According to ecologist Prasad Dash of Vasundhara, the sighting of the bird is common in most parts of the country between the last week of May and first week of June. This season it was first spotted in Bangalore on May 24. Records also indicated its presence in Nagpur on May 29, Mumbai on June 1 and Jalpaiguri on June 2.

“Legend has it that the arrival of the Chatak bird heralds the onset of the monsoon. Even in poetry it is referred to as the bird that eagerly waits to taste the first drops of the rain. So, its sighting near the outskirts of the city predicts the arrival of monsoon at an early date,” Dash added.

“Reports by ornithologists add that the arrival of the bird varies a little from year to year in a particular climatic zone proving that with the arrival of the monsoon clouds, the migratory guests arrive at a point and move towards other directions,” the ecologist said.

Sarat Chandra Sahoo, director, Indian Meteorological Department, Bhubaneswar centre, however, said: “There is no confirmed scientific finding to relate the arrival of the monsoon clouds with the birds. But there are many indicator species such as insects and ants, who come out of their habitation with a change in the humidity level during early monsoon.”

Prafulla Chandra Tripathy, historian and executive trustee of Jayadev Foundation Trust and a native of Balianta block, said: “There should be more research in relating our mythology to the orientation of different animals and birds. It could also lead to more discoveries in animal behaviour. As the area in Balianta has become a site for many migratory bird species, the forest department should conduct a study of the entire area and make an inventory of all the bird species seen at the nearby water bodies.”