The Point Calimere wildlife sanctuary at Kodiakarai in Nagapattinam district is witnessing a huge turnout of migratory birds this year, thanks to heavy monsoon rains since September this year. This is in contrast to the situation during the past few years when the sanctuary was witnessing a sharp decline in the number of winged visitors, renowned ornithologist and Deputy Director of Bombay Natural History Society Dr. S. Balachandran said.
Balachandran, who is camping at Kodiakarai said the migratory birds started arriving at the sanctuary during the latter half of September. “This is almost two weeks in advance to the usual arrival time. Usually, they start arriving during the first or second week of October,” he said.
“During the past couple of weeks, thousands of flamingos, waders and seagulls have arrived,” he said.
Certain species like the slender-billed gulls, ibis, painted storks, spoon-bills and pelicans, which are considered rare worldwide, have arrived in good number now, he said.
Most of the migratory birds would stay in the sanctuary till the onset of summer. “However, a good number is found to be using this sanctuary as a temporary halt en route other locations in the South West and Sri Lanka,” he said.
He added the BNHS had set up a research centre at Kodiakarai and was undertaking a research on bird migration pattern and had taken up ringing exercise on birds.
“The rings, which have satellite transmitters, help track the movement of birds. The signals emitted through the satellite transmitters reveal information on the routes taken by them, time taken for their journey and the changes in their body condition."
The Point Calimere sanctuary situated in a sprawling 20 sqkm area of dry evergreen forests serves as the abode for a good population of black bucks, antilopes, feral horses, wild boars and about 247 species of birds. The forest area was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1967. The lagoons in this area with their rich fish population attract thousands of birds from countries as far as Siberia and other West Asian countries every year. The wildlife department has tightened the security measures sto prevent poaching of birds in this area.PTI
