A census conducted at Bhitarkanika National Park in Orissa this year has shown the presence of over one lakh birds.

"An estimated 1,01,293 birds, including migratory feathered guests were sighted during the annual bird census 2008, carried out in the water bodies of the Bhitarkanika National park and its nearby areas on December 11 and 12," informed Rajnagar forest (Mangrove) and Wildlife Division DFO P K Behera.

Among the beautiful birds, brown wing kingfisher (Halcyon amauroptera) had the population of nearly 100 as its habitat is restricted only to Bhitarkanika.

The forest officials brought in use the High -Tech Global Positioning System in order to count the nesting resident avian species in the ''Bagagahan' to arrive at a near-accurate estimate of the numbers. Bringing GPS in use for mapping the rivers, creeks and mangrove forests of the park, permanent transit lines were put in position. In order to conduct the annual census of birds, ten teams were formed by the forest officials.

Mr Behera further reported, "The shore bird species like sand piper, plover, ducks, goose, heron, cormorants, spoon bill and egret, were seen in the branches of mangroves trees in the dense of Bhitarkanika park areas at Barunei Muhana, Chataka, Praharajpur, Bagagahan and Raitapatia."

Some rare and endangered bird species like indian skimmer, spoon bill, grey pelican, brahmin ducks, avocet, godwin, pintail, painted stork, seagulls, tawny eagle, osprey, grey heron, goliath heron and bar-headed geese were also sighted by the forest officials while conducting the census.

"While avocets, which generally come from Siberia, were sighted near Raipatia, bar headed geese, which comes from Ladakh, were seen at Chataka and the indian skimmers were spotted at Barunei," added Mr. Behera.

Last year, when the annual bird census was conducted, nearly 1.31 lakh of birds were traced.