With the onset of the North-East monsoon, thousands of migratory birds have started arriving at the Point Calimere Wildlife sanctuary, popularly known as Kodiakarai sanctuary in Nagapattinam district.

Renowned ornithologist from Bombay Natural History Society Dr S Balachandran, who is camping at Kodiakarai, told PTI that a few thousands of birds, including Gulls, Flamingo, Teal, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whishered terns, Blue tailed Bee Eater, Red Shank, Little Stint, Painted Stork, Blue Jay, Egret, Myna, Drongo, Curlew, Sandpiper and other varieties have been spotted in the sanctuary now.

BNHS had commenced an extensive research in the area and had taken up a 'ringing' exercise (fitting rings on the birds), he said.

"The rings, which have satellite transmitters, help in tracking the movement of birds. The signals emitted through the satellite transmitters reveal information on the routes taken by them, time taken for the journey and the changes in their body condition," he said.

Since Nagapattinam district has been registering good rain during the past three weeks, Balachandran predicted considerable increase in the inflow of migratory birds in the coming days.

The wildlife department has tightened security to prevent poaching of birds in this area.

During the past few years, the sanctuary had been witnessing a steady decline in the number of winged visitors. The arrival of birds here depends largely on the monsoon. If the rainfall is too high or too low, the number goes down.

The Point Calimere sanctuary situated in a 20 sq km area of dry evergreen forests serves as the abode for a good population of black bucks, antilopes, chitals, feral horses, wild boars and about 247 species of colourful birds. The forest area was declared as a wildlife sanctuary during 1967.

The lagoons in this area with their rich fish population attract thousands of migratory birds from countries as far as Siberia and other West Asian countries every year providing a visual treat for tourists and ornithologists.

The birds visit the sanctuary during the later part of October and stay up to February or March every year.

The North-East monsoon has set in over South India on Saturday last.