Nalbana Bird Sanctuary is a world-famous bird sanctuary built on the island of Indraprastha located in the central part of Chilika Lake. This bird sanctuary is spread over an area of about 06 square – (15.53 km). In 1972, the Nalbana Bird Sanctuary has declared a bird sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Most of the migratory birds in this bird sanctuary come for breeding in the winter season as the island completely submerges in water during the monsoon. After the monsoon, the island begins to reappear as the water of the island descends, and with this, a large number of migratory birds also begin to gather here.
Nalbana in the local language of Odisha means an island covered with grass. Nalbana bird sanctuary has migratory birds from far-flung countries such as Iran, Himalaya, Mongolia, Caspian Sea, Central and South-East Asia countries, Russia and the Aral Sea to complete their breeding period and migration period.
Migratory birds such as greylose geese, herons, white-bellied sea eagles, spoonbills, cranes, Goliath herons, black-headed ibis, flamingos can be easily spotted in this bird sanctuary. Many rare species of birds can also be seen in the Nalbana Bird Sanctuary, including birds such as spot-billed pelicans, Dalmatian pelicans, Asiatic dowitchers and spoon-billed sandpipers.
The island also has colonies for nesting birds like river turn and gull-build turn, besides the largest colony of birds like flamingos can also be seen on this island. The survey conducted by The Bombay Natural History Society in the year 2002 recorded the number of 540 habitats of birds of river tern species. At that time, this nesting colony of river tern species was the largest colony in Southeast Asia.