Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary and Himalayan wagtail birds. Telegraph pictures

Balasore, April 21: Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary has seen a sharp increase in the number of migratory birds that frequent the area in the winter months.

This is good news for environmentalist and bird watchers as there has been a growing perception that the number of birds in general has been dwindling with a decrease in the forest areas.

Every year, birds of the Himalayan wagtail group, which are generally seen in the mountains, take shelter in the sanctuary. With the onset of summer, these winged visitors head back home.

According to wildlife officials, the sanctuary plays host to 142 species of birds including some rare ones. “We have sighted a large number of migratory birds in the sanctuary this year. They generally confine themselves to the mountain ranges but have been spotted inside the reserve forest,” said divisional forest officer Kedar Swain.

“They must have migrated to the forest last winter. More than 1,000 birds were spotted during this period,” he said adding that these birds may have come because of the increased intensity of winter up on the mountains.

Kuldiha, primarily an elephant sanctuary, which is known for its flora and fauna, has been home to several species of birds. “The different species of birds inside the sanctuary include hornbills, falcons and eagles, some of which are rare,” Swain said.

“There has been no instance of poaching of birds inside the sanctuary. The habitat has been very congenial for them if we go by our records. At present, we are trying to augment their habitat by emphasising on planting fruit-bearing trees,” Swain claimed. “Since majority of the birds eat fruits, saplings of banyan, peepal and dimiri were planted inside the sanctuary. These trees bear huge quantities of fruit for years together,” he added.

Spread across 272 sq.km, the sanctuary is also home to deer, sambars and giant squirrels.