Deepak Rajanna

The wetlands and steppes of the arctic are a haven for a bewildering variety of birds. At the beginning of each winter, the birds experience a mysterious force that prods them to leave their homes to seek shelter in warmer climes. The german language has a charming word for this instinct, Zugunruhe, roughly translating to migration-anxiety. When this force kicks in, the birds put on some extra pounds, shed their colourful breeding plumage in favour of duller greys and browns, and take off into the skies. We still don't fully understand how they navigate but they cross the mountains and oceans and head to their preferred wetlands in the tropics, or sometimes as far out as the south pole itself. On their way they stop over at places that have now become iconic birding sites. Pt Calimere, in Tamil Nadu, is one such destination which is a stopover spot for migratory shorebirds.