Paradip, June 17: Migratory birds are arriving at the Bhitarkanika National Park for their monsoon sojourn.

The arrival of the winged guests has triggered a chirpy cacophony along the wetland and mangrove-infested sites of the forest, which has once again re-established its place as one of the most congenial habitat for the birds. Prominent among the species arriving here for nesting are grey herons, purple herons, darters, cormorants and large, intermediary and little egrets.

Last year, as many as 96,437 monsoon birds were counted, making the Bhitarkanika wetland spots their favourite nesting sites. Forest personnel are hopeful that there will be a steady rise in the number of water birds for their seasonal sojourn. "As the monsoon is being predicted to be steady this year, we expect more number of local migrant birds to visit Bhitarkanika," said Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division officer Bimal Prasanna Acharya.

"The habitat for these winged species spread across four hectares. They wing their way in and around the water bodies, adding to the scenic beauty of the place. There is ample food for the birds as the place is criss-crossed by innumerable water inlets and nullahs, which are free from human interference," said a forest official.

Ornithologist Salim Ali made a chance discovery of the birds' habitat while on a casual visit to the national park in 1981. Forest personnel said that about a dozen birds flocked to Bagagahana, right inside the forest, for nesting and breeding every year.