Women of Odisha help migratory birds in Arachandi Wetlands get their nests back

Hundreds of birds migrate to the Nistipur village of Bhubneshwar, Odisha and the poachers kill a few. But now, there stands a wall of 12 women who stand strong to protect these winged visitors. 

Odisha is a paradise for migratory birds, especially during winters, and the Arachandi Wetlands in Nistipur Village is one such abode for various traveling species. Birds like Mallards, Common Mergansers, Northern Pintails, Common Pochards, Red-crested Pochards, Ruddy Shelducks, Northern Shovelers, Ruffs, Godwits, Plovers and Gadwalls arrive at this beautiful city. Years of visiting by bird watchers made Arachandi a popular place, and so it attracted poachers and bird hunters to kill them and use them for commercial purposes.  

This cruel act was watched by a handful of women from the nearby village of Nistipur, and they decided to do something about it. They formed the ‘Arachandi Pakhi Surakhya Samiti‘ after having discussions with the villagers. The Samiti consists of only 12 women who look after the wetlands. They clean the area on a regular basis and maintain the surrounding vicinity. They also encourage visitors who come to the nearby Arachandi temple not to litter, play loud music and spread nuisance as it frightens the birds who visit there. 

After continuous efforts by these women, the migration that was affected in the past has started to come to normal, and the birds are visiting the wetlands again. Suryakanti Mohanty and Snehanjali Biswal of the group say that it is not only for the visitors to maintain the peace and stop the hunting activities but also the villagers' duty to take utmost care of the safety of the birds. They practice organic farming so that the chemicals do not intoxicate the birds who feed in the paddy fields. This also helps them to produce unadulterated crops for themselves. 

If a handful of women can bring hundreds of birds back to their homes, then imagine what would happen if the entire village and the visitors worked together and did their part in preserving the migratory species. There is a need for such people and organizations to unite and come together for the betterment of the lost and endangered wildlife that ornament the beauty of our ecosystem.