The Wildlife wing of the State Forest Department began a two-day water bird census on Tuesday.
An official release said the Wildlife wing conducted a two-day training programme for Foresters and Forest Guards last year in Point Calimere sanctuary in Kodiakarai. The census would help in identifying the condition of the water bodies in the State.
Nearly 200 species of water birds were found in the State of which 167 were migratory ones from Russia, Mongolia, China, Tibet and Central Asian region. They migrate from these countries to avoid the freezing temperature and in search of feed.
During the last census 132 species of birds visited the State, the release added.
