Winged visitors, guarded by the love of a dozen women

They come in hundreds every winter. And every year, they are watched over and cared for by a dozen. Arachandi is one of Odisha’s pristine wetlands. Surrounded by paddy fields, this 1.2 square km area is the winter home for migratory birds: Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Painted Stork, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Comb Duck, Grey Headed Lapwing, Common Snipe, Ruddy Shelduck, Red Crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Black-headed Ibis, Grey Heron, Purple Heron and Ruddy Shelducks.