Bhubaneswar: Four new species of migratory birds will be added to the bird atlas of the Chilika, a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance).

The Bombay Natural History Society, a wildlife research organisation, had earlier recorded 224 species of migratory birds in the lake.

A forest official said four species of birds - eurasian bittern, glossy ibis, goliath heron and eastern curlew - have been spotted near Gurubai in Satapada of Puri district this winter.

"We will seek the society's assistance for further studies on these bird species. This time, the migratory birds arrived late to the lake due to the rainfall triggered by low pressure in December. The annual bird census will be conducted on Tuesday and Thursday," said the Chilika Development Authority's additional chief executive Sasmita Lenka.

The Chilika gets migratory birds from a wide range of breeding grounds extending from north, central and east Siberia, China, Mongolia, and west Asian countries such as Kazakhstan.

More than 9.47 lakh birds of 176 species had thronged the lake last year. The Nalabana Island (a part of the lake), which had been declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1987 and is spread over 15.5sqkm, is the hot spot of congregation of migratory birds. Besides, Nalabana birds also flock to Panchakudi, Mangalajodi and nearby areas in large numbers.

A forest official said more than 100 persons, including research scholars and bird lovers, of the state would take part in the two-day census exercise. Experts will train the participants on census methodology at the Wetland Research Centre, Chandraput, after which the participants will be sent in groups for counting the birds.

In a related development, the Bhitarakanika National Park will remain closed for visitors from January 3 to 10 in view of the annual census of estuarine crocodiles. A forest official said the restriction was imposed to prevent noise pollution during the counting of reptiles. According to the 2017 census, the number of crocodiles in the park is 1,671.