Captivating images of avian birds wonderfully woven in ‘The Magic of Mangalajodi’
By A K Sahoo
Bhubaneswar, May 9: It’s a magical marshland that has magnetic power to attract millions of avian guests every year to it get immersed in its beauty. They birds from far-off places fly to this place, spend nearly four months before returning to their homelands. And within all these days, the winged musicians lift up a soulful cacophony day in and out touching every heart.
Yes, it’s Mangalajodi, a 10 square km patch of marshland located on the north eastern fringe of Odisha’s famous Chilika which boastfully presents this magical spectacle to countless tourists every year during the winter.
And, now, for all those who want to catch a glimpse of these avian species’ gala time at this wonderland, industrialist-turned ace photographer Avinash Khemka has come out with an enviable pictorial coffee table book – ‘The Magic of Mangalajodi.’
Released a few days ago by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, the book was on Saturday evening presented before a galaxy of eminent dignitaries at a special show here. The 247-page book has placed captivating images of avian birds captured by Avinash.
Enriched with fascinating narration by prolific writer Panchami Manoo Ukil, the book comes as first authoritative work on conservation of the marshland and its visiting guests.
“The exemplary effort put by Avinash Khemka to capture and portray the life and essence of Mangalajodi and its surroundings through this book is praiseworthy. The book provides a bird’s eye view of Mangalajodi,” CM Naveen Patnaik said.
Mangalajodi is only 90 minutes away from Odisha capital Bhubaneswar. With more than three lakh migratory birds visiting its wetlands in winter every year, the place holds the distinction of being one of the greatest conservation stories of the world.
The conservation effort that began in the late 1980s has sustained and stood the test of a time span of more than thirty years. From a deadly poacher’s den to a protector’s bird paradise, Mangalajodi is a story of hope, struggle, reformation and revival. The turnaround story that started with the efforts of a single individual, Nanda Kishore Bhujabal inspired many others, including government and non-government agencies, to intervene and supplement the conservation efforts.
The magical beauty of the habitat, its position of pre-eminence in the Chilika ecosystem, the exemplary conservation story and the sheer number of species of resident and migratory birds it attracts make Mangalajodi a gem in the biodiversity map of the world.
The key migratory species that annual visit Mangalajodi between November-February include black-tailed Godwit, Whiskered Tern, Ruff, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Knob-billed Duck, Garganey, Gadwall, Sandpipers, Citrine Wagtail, Common Snipe, Bluethroat, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey-headed Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt and Peregrine Falcon.
Birds migrate from Baikal Lake, Aral Sea, Caspian Sea, Mongolia, Central and South-east Asia, and Ladakh.
