Chilka Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Orissa is Asia's largest inland salt-water lagoon. The lake is dotted with islands and is a home of millions of winter migrants. The pear-shaped lake spreads across 1,100 sq km, and has a unique ecosystem with a range of aquatic flora and fauna found in and around its brackish waters. An impressive array of bird life, both native and migrant, makes Chilka Lake is one of the best places in India for watching ducks and waders. Some of birds in Chilka are Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Spot-billed Duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Garganey, Red-crested Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Tufted Duck, Pied Kingfisher, Grey Nightjar, Indian Nightjar, Red Collared Dove, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze-winged Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Pacific Golden Plover, Little ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Caspian Plover, Pallas's Gull, Brown-headed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, River Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Black-bellied Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black-shouldered Kite, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Fish Eagle, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Rufous-winged Bushlark, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Paddyfield Pipit, Baya Weaver, Indian Silverbill and White-rumped Munia.
Click for the annotated checklist
Nearest Railhead: Balugaon
Nearest Airport: Bhubaneswar
Approx traveling time: Rambha Jetty on Chilika Lagoon is 1-hour drive from Balugaon.From Jetty SAGA Eco Camp provides courtesy transfers by their own boats.
Accommodation: SAGA Eco Camp is the best. Orissa Tourism too runs a small lodge in Rambha and Barkul
Also visit our dedicated birding website EastIndiaBirding.com
