BHUBANESWAR: This winter, Chilika is missing its long-legged guests. Flamingos, the flagship species for a winter bird site, are a few and far between.

Last year, number of the waders had reached 5,000 in the brackish water lagoon where these birds dot the Nalabana Sanctuary. This time the number has remained confined to just four.

Flamingos abandoning Chilika has surprised the experts.