Kendrapara (Odisha): With the onset of the monsoon season, residential water birds have begun thronging Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara district, a forest official said.

The winged species visit the park in thousands during this time of the year for nesting and breeding. "The water birds have started arriving at the wetland in small groups. The arrival of local migrant birds has re-established Bhitarkanika as a prominent heronry (breeding ground) of the state, said Prasanna Kumar Acharya, Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) forest division. The congregation will only get larger when the monsoon picks up pace, he said.