Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary is teeming with birdlife this January. Over 96,000 birds from 116 species have gathered in the wetland. Divisional Forest Officer B. Vijaya Suneetha shared these figures with The Hindu. The sanctuary hosts both resident birds and long-distance migrants that travel across continents to find shelter in its waters. The most numerous are the Asian Openbill storks, with 1,004 recorded, forming dense groups on mudflats. Ducks such as Northern Pintail, Gadwall, and Spot-billed Duck also thrive here in mixed flocks numbering several thousands. Rarer birds like Baillon’s Crake were spotted too, though only three were seen. Other notable species include Black Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Yellow Wagtail (699 counted), and Yellow-wattled Lapwings, which fiercely defend their areas with sharp calls. Migratory shorebirds like Bar-tailed Godwits, Wood Sandpipers and Common Sandpipers forage along the lake's edges, highlighting Kolleru’s vital role on the Central Asian Flyway. Birds will remain at the sanctuary until the Maha Sivaratri festival. As temperatures rise after the festival, migratory birds will fly back to their native habitats.