JICA-CDA Technical Cooperation Project on "Conservation and Natural Resources of Chilika lagoon through Community Participation".
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JICA-CDA Project Report.
BNHS Final Report 2001-2005
Executive Summary
The four year study carried out at Chilika between 2001 and 2005 has documented the status and distribution of birds in different zones of the Chilika lake. This is the first systematic study on the avifauna of this lake which has also identified the major conservation issues and suggested possible measures to mitigate the problems. A Waterbird atlas (distribution of ducks and waders in different zones) of Chilika Lake has been made available. The breeding status of terns and waders on the Nalabana Island, the location of new wader habitats at Satapada and the current status of uncommon waterfowl species are some of the other findings of the study. Among ducks, the Northern Pintail Anas acuta numbers exceeded 200,000, and in both Gadwall Anas strepera and Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula the numbers were more than 100,000. A total of 225 species were recorded, including 9 threatened species. In 43 species, the number of birds recorded exceeded their 1% bio-geographical population. The role of Chilika in maintaining the global population of major wintering waterfowl and wader species of India was recognized through population estimates of individual species.