Comments
Mangalajodi is a green speck on the north-eastern fringes of Chilika lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon that stretches across 1,100 sq km. One of the 130-odd villages on the banks of the Chilika, Mangalajodi’s wetlands provide refuge to nearly three lakh migratory birds every winter, adding several colours to its marshy waters.
The migration season kicks off in October. The early birds are soon followed by rafts of ducks and bevies of several other kinds. The village echoes with the trilling of the feathered visitors, some of whom stay till early summer, while the permanent residents can be seen through the year.
The expansive wetlands, mostly covered by reeds, are also a source of income for the fishing community from the nearby villages. The birds are often seen resting on the edges of country boats as the fishermen wait after casting their nets in the shallow waters.
Mangalajodi is also one of those conservation success stories in which poachers have turned protectors of a unique ecosystem and its rich avian life. Some of them are now employed as birding guides for tourists. Less than 100 km from Odisha capital Bhubaneswar, Mangalajodi is a birdwatcher’s delight minus the ugly trappings of commercial tourism.
Photos: Ashoke Chakraborty
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.