While the salkated teal was spotted for the first time in the lake this year, the white stork has been seen after a five-year absence, according to noted ornithologist and regional co-ordinator of Wetland International, Dr Udaya Nayaran Dev.

Birds like bramhani duck and marvel teal have been sighted in a large numbers this time compared to the previous year. Apart from these, perigrain falcon, marsh herrian osprey and piper also were found in the picturesque lake.

These birds had been identified in the lake after a survey conducted by Wetland International with the help of the wildlife division of the Orissa Government on January 21 and 22.

According to a conservative estimate, Dr Dev said, about 1.5 million birds of 70 species had made the lake their home this winter which was about one lakh morethan last year.

The exact number of different species of birds who visited Chilka this year could be known after completion of final survey by his organisation at the middle of the next month, Dev said.

The number of birds which come to Chilka depend on the intensity of winter in their native country, the ornithologist said adding that this year they might have visited it due to heavy snowfall in the Himalayan region.

The other migratory birds, who are already in the lake were shoveller, wigeon, tufted poachard, gadwal, common coot, pelicans, flemingoes and tawny eagle besides plenty of shore birds.

However, these birds are scattered throughout the vast lake as the bird habitats including nalabana bird sanctuary are still submerged in water, he pointed out.

The water level of the Chilka and the Nalabana bird sanctuary is higher than last year, following the dredging of the mouth of the lagoon and widening of the serpentine channel linking the lake with the sea, Dev said.

The 15.53 sq km sanctuaryusually receives the largest number of migratory birds in early winter because of its quiet ambience and availability of food in plenty.

Describing the Nalabana sanctuary in the lake as natural, he said it had come up on its own and considered as a gift of nature.

Dev, who is also a member of the State Wildlife Advisory Board, however, expressed his concern over the disturbance caused to the birds by tourists.

"It is essential to control the tourist traffic in the Chilka and also impose a ban on disposal of the bio-degradable materials in the lake," he said, adding it causes pollution and hampers the growth of food for the birds, he said.

He said an eco-tourism project was necessary to control tourists and ensure the safety of the birds, adding an adequate number of forest guards should also be deployed in the lake to prevent poaching.

The Wetland International also conducted a migratory bird census in Hanadi and Rengali reservoirs in the State, he said.