An updated checklist of birds of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India

Aisha Sultana

Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Biodiversity Parks Programme, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India

aishasultana28@yahoo.com

Abstract: Surveys were carried out at 10 sites in the buffer and core zones of SariskaTiger Reserve during 2007–2011. MacKinnon’s species listing method was used to compile a checklist of birds. A total of 224 bird species was recorded including 36 new records. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus, Marshall’s Iora Aegithina nigrolutea, Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo, Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica, Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus, Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus, Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera, Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus, White-capped Water Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephaluswere some new records. Some important observations are given in detail.

Keywords: Abundance, Aravalli Hills, birds, disturbance, habitats, new records, Sariska Tiger Reserve, threatened.

doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3215.4791-804 | ZooBank:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FD44AD9B-E3DE-4CC5-8D10-F75A18E4B020

Editor: R. Jayapal, SACON, Coimbatore, India.  Date of publication: 26 September 2013 (online & print)

Manuscript details: Ms # o3215 | Received 21 May 2012 | Final received 07 July 2013 | Finally accepted 28 August 2013

Citation: Sultana, A. (2013). An updated checklist of birds of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(13): 4791–4804; http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3215.4791-804

Copyright: © Sultana 2013. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.

Funding: Delhi Development Authority, Government of India (Project - Biodiversity Parks Programme)

Competing Interest: Authors declare no competing interest.

Acknowledgements: I am thankful to forest officials of Sariska Tiger Reserve for giving permission to survey in the area. Dr. Stephen is acknowledged for his help in the field. Thanks to anonymous reviewers for their fruitful comments and suggestions.

For figures, table -- click here

Sariska Tiger Reserve lies (27⁰05’–27⁰33’N & 79⁰17’–76⁰34’E) in the AlwarDistrict of Rajasthan, India. The total area is 881km² with 497.8km² as its core area and consists of undulating plateaus and the wide valleys of the Aravallis(Kidwai et al. 2011) with tropical dry deciduous thorn forest (Champion & Seth 1968). The topography of Sariska supports semi-deciduous riparian forest, scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses (Shahabuddin et al. 2006). Anogeissus pendula is the dominant tree species of the forest whereas Boswellia serrata and Lannea coromandelica grow on rocky forested patches. Some valleys support Acacia catechu,Butea monosperma,Zizyphus mauritiana,Z. nummularia, Capparis separia and C. decidua. Besides these, some noteworthy tree species are Terminalia arjuna, Commiphora wightii,Sterculia urens,Emblica officinalis and Terminalia bellerica.

Sariska Tiger Reserve is rich in avifaunal diversity (Sankar et al. 1993; Shahabuddin et al. 2004, 2006). Owing to this high diversity, Sariska has been considered as an Important Bird Area (IBA code: IN-RJ-18) as recognised by Islam & Rahmani (2004). Therefore, it is essential to survey this area for the documentation of avian fauna. A total of 10 sites was selected for a bird survey in the core and buffer zones of the reserve, i.e., Sariska, SilisedLake, Kanakwari, Karanakawas,Indradhauk Village, Kalighati,Pandupole, Bara, Kushalgarhand Kiraska (Fig. 1).

Methods

MacKinnon’s species listing method (MacKinnon & Philips 1993; Bibby et al. 2000) was adopted for the bird survey in SariskaTiger Reserve in all seasons during 2007–2011. Bird lists were compiled in each area and each list comprised only 20 different bird species seen. No species were included more than once in the list. All lists were cumulated and a complete list of all bird species was prepared for each area. Different calls of confirmed species were also noted. The total number of each species from each site was added up and a checklist of birds for the tiger reserve compiled. All individual sightings of bird species were pooled and were ranked according to the following abundance categories: Stray (S) (1 or 2 sightings), Occasional (O) (3–5 sightings), Uncommon (U) (6–15 sightings), Common (C) (16–50 sightings), Abundant (A) (> 50 sightings).

Earlier published lists of Sariska Tiger Reserve (Sankar et al. 1993; Shahabuddin et al. 2006) were considered for comparison. Different habitat types were also recognised for each species (where the species was sighted): A = Aerial, D = Disturbed, F = Forested habitat, G = Grass dominant habitat, O = Open or scrub habitat, W = Water bodies and riparian habitat.

Feeding observations were also recorded in the field for each bird. The identification of birds and checklists were prepared following Grimmett et al. 1998.

Results

The appendix provides a complete list of birds (273 bird species of 53 families) that are known to occur in Sariska Tiger Reserve and this includes all previous records as well. In the present survey, a total of 224 bird species was recorded from different sites and habitats. Of these, 15 bird species were frugivorous, 32 omnivorous, 27 piscivorous, 114 insectivorous, 15 granivorousand 30 carnivorous in their feeding habits.

As compared with previously published lists, 36 new species of birds, including 57 species over and above Sanker et al. (1993) and 59 over and above Shahabuddin et al. (2006) were added to Sariska’savifauna in the present study. Some of the additions are: Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Plain leaf Warbler Phylloscopus neglectus, White-capped Water Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus, Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius, Rufous-fronted Prinia Prinia buchanani, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus, Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul, Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus, Marshall’s Iora, Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris, Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina, Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera and Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris. While some species which were recorded in the past were not recorded in the present survey such as the Blue-breasted Quail Coturnix chinensis, Greater Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus, Eurasian Cuckoo Cuculus canorus, Tickell’sThrush Turdus unicolor, Common Iora Aegithina tiphia, Sarus Crane Grus antigone and Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber. A few species were considered to be commonly present in the area (Sankar et al. 1993; Shahabuddinet al. 2006) but could not be recorded during the present survey (see Appendix 1).

The status was recorded only for the birds recorded in the present study and it is clearly evident from Fig. 2 that residents (128 species) outnumber the winter (89) and summer visitors (7).

Some notable observations

White-capped Water Redstart Chaimarrornis leucocephalus: One bird was observed and photographed in Pandupole near a stream on 25 March 2007 and 26 March 2008. There are no other published records of this bird from this area. This bird is not known to migrate in Sariska Tiger Reserve so sighting was interesting although it was sighted wintering in Delhi (Sharma 2002) and in Bikaner District along the Indira Gandhi canal in Rajasthan (Kumar 2004).

Grey-winged Blackbird Turdus boulboul: This bird was recorded inKaranakawas (25 March 2007) and Pandupole(25 November 2009). Only two male individuals were seen once at each site. It is a new record for the area. It was observed feeding and searching the litter on the forest floor.

Marshall’s Iora Aegithina nigrolutea: Four individuals; three male and one female were recorded from Kanakwari (24 March 2007) and Kalighati valley (25 November 2009). This species was not recorded by Sankar et al. 1993 and Shahabuddin et al. 2006 while another species Common Iora Aegithina tiphia, which was not recorded in the present survey, was recorded as rare by Sankar et al. 1993.

Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis: Two male individuals were sighted in the Kalighativalley on 26 December 2009 and 10 December 2011. One was observed feeding on a squirrel while another was perched in the thick foliage of a Holoptelea integrifolia tree. Both individuals had a black head and a diagnostic broad white supercilium. Underpartswere grayish-white and the eyes of one individual were orangish-red (the other’s eyes could not be seen).

Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo: This bird was sighted four times in Kanakwari(8 August 2007) and Pandupole (18 November 2008, 30 April 2009 & 11 December 2011) in the rocky forestedarea. One male was recorded calling in Kanakwari and three other males were sighted from the rocky hills of Pandupole area. Although no nest was sighted it seemed that it bred here.

Red-necked Falcon Falco chicquera: It was recorded perching on a Mallotus phillipanensis tree once in the Pandupole area (20 September 2010) in forest with open habitat. Given the species’ declining range and populations in the subcontinent, the sighting of the Falcon in Sariskais particularly notable.

White-rumpedVulture Gyps bengalensis: This vulture was seen soaring in the Pandupole area near rocky cliffs twice only during 2008 on 10 June and 18 November in the same area. It was recorded as frequent by Sankar et al. 1993 and Shahabuddinet al. 2006 but it has since become very uncommon.

Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus: In the present survey it was seen once in the Pandupolearea on 21 September 2010. It was recorded as rare by Sankar et al. (1993), Shahabuddin et al. (2006) observed that the species occurred in sizeable numbers. However, no breeding signs were observed.

Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus: Uncommon in reserve and it was seen twice in the Khushalgarh area (8 August 2007 & 11 June 2008) in the open habitat. No breeding signs were recorded.

Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax: A mature male was seen once near Karnakawason 11 December 2011. It was a first record for the tiger reserve. Surprising that it was not recorded before, as Sariskahas an ideal habitat in the species’ core geographical range.

Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus: This migratory buzzard was recorded once in Pandupole in 2010 on 20 September. It was seen feeding on a Rock Pigeon. The plumage was pale, eyes were dark and upperparts were rufous. No band was seen on the tail and seemed to be an adult.

Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus: A confirmed sighting of this wagtail occurred on 8 March 2009 and 21 September 2010 at Silised Lake and Bara ki nadi, respectively. Four individuals were recorded at both sites. It was sighted in the nearby forest habitat of the Silised Lake and Bara ki nadi only and once it was recorded feeding with Citrine Wagtail and White Wagtail near water. This must be a passage migrant in Sariska.

Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus: This bird was sighted on 10 December 2011 in Silised Lake and Indradhaunk Village. A total of ten individuals was recorded. Indradhaunk Village is a degraded habitat and this bird was seen feeding on Lantana camara and Ehretia laevisberries. It was never recorded from this area in the past (Sankar et al. 1993; Shahabuddin et al. 2006).

White-bellied Minivet Pericrocotus erythropygius: This is a resident bird species but uncommon in SariskaTiger Reserve. It was recorded fromSariska (10 June 2008), Karankawas(20 September 2010), Pandupole (25 November 2009) andKalighati areas (20 September 2010).

Ultramarine Flycatcher Ficedula superciliaris: It was recorded from Kanakwari (23 February 2007), Kalighati(10 December 2011), Pandupole (23 December 2009) and Khushalgarh (23 February 2007). One–two individuals were recorded from each of these areas. A white supercilium was very clear in the males, indicating the West Himalayan population of the nominate race. It was also sighted at the Bara Fort in Alwar (not a part of the Tiger Reserve) on 19 September 2010.

Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina: This thrush was recorded occasionally from Pandupole (20 March 2010) and Kushalgarh (26 March 2008) area. But it is not reported in earlier studies (Sankar et al. 1993; Shahabuddin et al. 2006).

Discussion

Sariska Tiger Reserve is a significant conservation unit for the avifauna in the whole AravalliHills stretch. Many threatened bird (IUCN 2011) species were sighted here such as the Egyptian Vulture (Endangered), White-rumpedVulture, Long-billed Vulture and Red-headed Vulture (Critically Endangered) andLaggar Falcon, Darter and Painted Stork (Near Threatened). The topography and diversity of habitats - for instance the water bodies, lakes, dense forest, scrub forest, open land and surrounded by agricultural fields provided different strata and guilds, which increased the diversity of birds. The presence of 22 raptor species including scavengers like the vulture signifies the importance of the area in terms of healthy ecosystems.

Out of 10 surveyed sites, theKalighati Valley, Karankawas,Pandupole and Silised Lake were the most bird-rich areas. These areas can be considered highly conserved core blocks for birds. Sankaret al. (2010) also suggested the same areas for the conservation of the tiger. Many threatened bird species have been sighted in these areas only (Appendix 1). Silised Lake and its surrounding forest are very important for water birds including waders. Many passage migratory and migratory bird species were recorded here but this lake is under serious threat from tourism and local pressure. People from the surrounding villages use this lake for their daily needs. They collect fuel wood, fodder and timber from the nearby forest. Livestock grazing on the shore of the lake is another threat to the birds.

After the relocation of tigers, the habitat situation has been improved in Sariskabut many threats still exist (Sankar et al. 2010). It has already been reported that biomass extraction is leading to the changes in vegetation composition of the reserve (Kumar & Shahabuddin 2005; Gupta & Yadav 2005; Yadav& Gupta 2006, 2007) and it is changing the bird composition also. Many new bird species were recorded only from a specific area, which is under threat by tourism. PandupoleTemple attracts thousands of religious tourists during June–September (Ministry of Environment and Forests 2006) and this poses a potential threat to the mesic ecosystem of the area which is known for its high galliform diversity and density (Kidwai et al. 2011). Further surveys are still required in the buffer zone of the tiger reserve for vulture population assessmentas they were not recorded from these areas in the present survey.

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