The birds breeding in the arctic (both in tundra, taiga) and sub-arctic regions, and temperate regions migrate to tropical countries located in both the northern and southern hemispheres and they mostly prefer coastal wetlands with large mudflats which are available relatively to small and restricted regions. Point Calimere is one such coastal habitat with extensive mudflats and shallow marshes. 

Apart from shorebirds and flamingos, Point Calimere supports various other waterbird groups, including ducks, terns, gulls, pelicans, storks, egrets, and cormorants. The presence of a tropical evergreen forest at Point Calimere serves as a stopover site for thousands of migrant passerines (tree-perching terrestrial birds). Over 4,00,000 birds are ringed through the BNHS Bird ringing studies from Point Calimere during the last six decades and individuals of several species were recovered in 18 countries. The study at Point Calimere documented changes in the migratory patterns of several bird species, including some threatened ones. Degradation of traditional stopover sites in other countries has been identified as a factor influencing these changes.