This year, Birdwatching Asia had the privilege of participating in one of India’s most celebrated birdwatching events, held in the eastern state of Odisha. The 6th National Chilika Bird Festival took place from 6–8 January 2026 and marked yet another milestone in the festival’s remarkable growth. Since its inception in 2018, the festival has evolved into one of the region’s most significant birdwatching gatherings.
The event is jointly organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, the Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, and the Chilika Development Authority with full support from both the State Government of Odisha and the Central Government of India. As a national-level festival, it has consistently attracted participants from across India over the past five editions.
This year was especially noteworthy, as several prominent international birdwatchers and conservationists were invited to participate. This initiative reflects the organizers’ vision of promoting Odisha on a global platform and introducing Chilika Lake to an international audience. The festival theme highlighted Chilika as “Odisha’s Best Kept Secret.” However, as the festival unfolded, a recurring sentiment emerged: Chilika Lake is no longer a secret, but a natural treasure that Odisha proudly shares with the world.
An Overview of the Chilika Bird Festival 2026
The festival officially commenced with an opening ceremony held at Lok Sewa Bhawan, the Odisha Government Secretariat in Bhubaneswar. The event was inaugurated by several distinguished representatives of the Odisha State Government, who delivered keynote addresses highlighting the vital role of bird conservation, eco-tourism, and community participation in sustainable development.
During the ceremony, local nature guides from Chilika Lake were honored with awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to bird conservation. An official book titled Bird Conservation in Odisha: Diversity, Distribution and Conservation Approaches was also launched, adding further significance to the occasion. In addition, several brochures and pocket guides on the birds of Odisha were unveiled.
The Chief Guest, Smt. Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister of the State of Odisha, commended the dedicated efforts of local communities in advancing bird conservation across the state. She also acknowledged their role in establishing Chilika Lake as a premier bird tourism destination.
Following the opening ceremony, participants gathered for refreshments before proceeding to Chilika Lake, where the main festival activities were scheduled to take place.
The evening concluded with a networking dinner, held at the Pipul Odi Art Resort in Chilika providing an excellent opportunity for participants to connect and exchange ideas.
Birding at Mangalajodi Wetlands
The following day marked the most anticipated part of the festival—birdwatching at Chilika Lake. One of the premier birding locations in the region is the Mangalajodi Wetlands, situated on the northeastern side of the lake. From our accommodation in Barkul, the journey took approximately one hour by road, offering a clear perspective on the sheer size of Chilika Lake.
Mangalajodi is a remarkable success story in bird conservation. In the past, local residents depended on bird hunting for livelihood. With the development of eco-tourism, former hunters have transformed into skilled nature guides. Today, the entire village actively participates in bird conservation and sustainable tourism.
This vast freshwater wetland allows access to only certain designated areas, while the rest remains protected for preservation. During our visit, we encountered an incredible abundance of waterbirds. Highlights included Long-toed Stint, Greater Painted Snipe, Asian Openbill Stork, Grey-headed Swamphen, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, and many others. In just one birding session, we recorded nearly 50 species, a truly rewarding experience.
Birding at Nalabana Bird Sanctuary
Another major highlight of the Chilika Bird Festival is the rare opportunity to visit Nalabana Bird Sanctuary. This protected area is normally off-limits to tourists and is accessible only to government officials and researchers. Festival participants are granted exclusive access, making the visit especially memorable.
Nalabana is an island within Chilika Lake that becomes completely submerged during the monsoon season and re-emerges during the dry months. Reaching the sanctuary required a scenic one-hour boat ride from Barkul. Unlike Mangalajodi’s freshwater habitat, Nalabana features brackish water, resulting in a distinctly different bird community.
En route, we were fortunate to spot Irrawaddy Dolphins, an unforgettable sight, even though we were unable to photograph them.
As we approached Nalabana, we were greeted by thousands of birds foraging in the shallow waters surrounding the island. These included ducks such as Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, and Ruddy Shelduck, along with large numbers of Painted Stork, Asian Openbill Stork, Brown-headed Gull, Little Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Marsh Sandpiper, River Tern, and Caspian Tern. Beyond species diversity, the sheer number of birds was truly awe-inspiring.
Birdwatching continued on the main island near an observation tower, before we moved closer to smaller ponds. Here, we were rewarded with an exceptional sighting—a rare Asian Dowitcher, observed alongside a group of Black-tailed Godwits. Other notable sightings included Bar-headed Goose, Pied Avocet, and Gull-billed Tern, all uncommon in the area.
Although we had hoped to see Greater Flamingos, which occasionally visit Nalabana in large numbers, they were absent on this particular day.
By midday, we began our return journey to Barkul. Upon arrival, we witnessed the vibrant Chilika Boat Race, held as part of the festival celebrations. After a long morning, some participants rested, while others—including myself—returned to Mangalajodi for a final birding session before the festival’s closing night.
Evening Sessions of the Festival
Throughout the three-day festival, evening sessions were held at the Pipul Odi Art Resort in Barkul. These sessions featured a wide range of presentations and talks by invited guests and researchers from around the world.
International speakers included Tim Appleton (UK), Scott Pursner (USA), Laurens Steijn (Netherlands), Luis Garcia (Colombia), Ashan (Sri Lanka), and me, representing Malaysia. These were complemented by insightful sessions from Indian birdwatchers, researchers, photographers, and academicians. Workshops by Team eBird India, along with presentations by leading Indian bird photographers and social media influencers, added great value to the program.
These evening sessions provided a wonderful platform for learning, networking, and building lasting connections within the global birdwatching community.
Conclusion
The 6th National Chilika Bird Festival was an outstanding success. Heartfelt thanks and appreciation go to the Odisha Tourism Board and all organizers for hosting such a well-curated and inspiring event. With each passing year, the festival continues to grow, and it is certain to attract even greater international participation in the future.
I am deeply grateful to the organizers for inviting me to be part of this unforgettable experience. I look forward to returning to Odisha in the coming year. For more updates on birdwatching festivals, events, and races around the world, do continue reading our articles on our website.