At least four lakh migratory birds have so far thronged to Odisha’s Chilika Lake – India’s largest brackish water lagoon as of 6 December 2012.

Three lakh birds have been sighted on the lake’s Nalabana Island, while another one lakh birds were spotted on the other area of the lake.

The 1,000 sq km lake, about 100 km from here, is spread over the districts of Puri, Khordha and Ganjam along the eastern coast and is home to some of the largest congregations of migratory birds in the country.

Every year, about a million migratory birds come to the lake from places as far as Siberia, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan in October and return in March.

More birds are expected to arrive at the lake in the coming days and the number may peak in January.

After Chillika Lake, the most popular destination for these migratory birds is Pong Dam Wetland in Himachal Pradesh. More than 2 Lakh birds are expected to arrive this season at the Pong Dam Wetland. The Pong Dam wetland is one of the three notified Ramsar Wetlands of Himachal Pradesh.

The other two being Renuka Wetland in Sirmour District and Chandertaal Lake in Lahaul Valley.