Birds throng Vaduvur, Udhayamarthandam and Point Calimere

Context: After a two-year lull in the wake of Cyclone Gaja that ravaged the Cauvery delta districts, birds have, in good numbers, visited the Vaduvur, Udhayamarthandam and Point Calimere sanctuaries.

• Species of migratory birds — including Eurasian coot, Eurasian spoonbill, Greater flamingo, Eurasian wigeon, White ibis, Glossy Ibis, Pheasant-tailed jacana, Asian openbill stork, Bar-headed goose and Lesser flamingo.

Two waves

• There would be two waves of migration; the first wave would normally begin in early October. “But only 25% of the birds of the first wave will stay back, while the rest will leave for other places.
• For the second wave, Point Calimere is the final destination. But again their stay will depend on the water level in the sanctuary

About Point Calimere bird sanctuary

• Kodiakkarai also called Point Calimere or Cape Calimere, is a low headland on the Coromandel Coast, in the Nagapattinam district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
• It is the apex of the Cauvery River delta, and marks a nearly right-angle turn in the coastline.
• Kodiakkarai is designated as Ramsar Convention site since August 2002.
• The forests of Point Calimere, also known the Vedaranyam forests, are one of the last remnants of the dry evergreen forests that were once typical of the East Deccan dry evergreen forests ecoregion.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/birds-throng-vaduvur-udhayamarthandam-and-point-calimere/article33157013.ece?homepage=true