Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 October 2021 | 13(12): 19733–19742
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893
(Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4062.13.12.19733-19742
#4062 | Received 18 April 2020 | Final
received 18 July 2021 | Finally accepted 02 October 2021
Abundance and diversity of
threatened birds in Nangal Wetland, Punjab, India
Rajwinder Kaur 1 &
Onkar Singh Brraich 2
1,2 Department of Zoology and
Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab 147002, India.
1 rajwinderhansi888@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 singhonkar@yahoo.com
Editor: S. Balachandran,
Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India. Date
of publication: 26 October 2021 (online & print)
Citation: Kaur, R. & O.S. Brraich (2021). Abundance and diversity of
threatened birds in Nangal Wetland, Punjab, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(12): 19733–19742. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.4062.13.12.19733-19742
Copyright: © Kaur & Brraich 2021. Creative Commons Attribution
4.0 International License. JoTT allows
unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium
by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Self-funded.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing
interests.
Author details: Rajwinder Kaur has completed doctorate degree
and is working as an assistant professor in the Zoology Department at Govt
Ranbir College Sangrur. Onkar Singh
is working as an assistant professor in the Zoology Department at Punjabi
University Patiala.
Author contributions: RK—done this research work during
PhD degree. OS—supervised and guided throughout.
Acknowledgements: Authors are very thankful to the
head, Department of Zoology & Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University,
Patiala for providing necessary laboratory facilities.
Abstract: Anthropogenic threats to wetland ecosystems,
including discharge of industrial effluents, municipal sewerage, land
reclamation, erosion and deforestation, have contributed to the rapid declines
in populations of many bird species. The present study aimed to document avian
diversity, including birds on the IUCN Red List, at Nangal Wetland, Punjab from
February 2013 to January 2015. A total of 155 species belonging to 48 families
(resident and migratory) under 17 orders were recorded, of which 13 come under various IUCN Red List categories:
one ‘Endangered’—Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus; five
‘Vulnerable’—Common Pochard Aythya
ferina, Greater-Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Sarus Crane Grus
antigone, Lesser White-Fronted Goose Anser erythropus, and
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus; and seven ‘Near Threatened’—Ferruginous
Duck Aythya nyroca, River
Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii,
Indian River Tern Sterna aurantia, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster,
Blossom-headed Parakeet Psittacula roseata, and Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria. The Shannon-Weaver index of diversity was
highest during winter (H’= 1.9) followed by autumn (H’= 1.9) then spring (H’=
1.5), and was lowest during summer (H’= 1.4).
Though this wetland is highly productive and provides homes to many
threatened species, untreated industrial effluents from adjoining areas
sometimes create problems. The discharge of pollutants should be stopped
through strict enforcement of environmental laws and policies.
Keywords: Avifauna, conservation, IUCN Red List.
Introduction
Wetlands are important bird
habitats (Mitsch & Gosselink 1986; Guadagnin et al. 2005) that provide
suitable breeding, staging, and wintering grounds for a wide array of migratory
birds (Kristen & Brander 1991). Wetland with multiple sub-habitats or micro
habitats attract diverse species of waterbirds. Being ecologically important
with high nutritional value and productivity, wetlands support a good diversity
of birds (Gibbs 1993; Paracuellos 2006).
It might be predicted that
migratory species are more likely to be threatened because they are dependent
on different sites and habitats during breeding and non-breeding seasons. A
threat operating in just one of these areas could have a severe impact (Salathe
1991). Several studies suggest that habitat destruction is one of the prime
reasons for the decline of birds. For instance, it was reported that over 90 %
of globally threatened birds and 86 % of other bird species are facing a
serious threat mainly due to habitat degradation (Kauzeni & Kiwasila 1994;
Kideghesho et al. 2006). Information on status and distribution of threatened
and endemic birds, therefore, aids in prediction of disturbance level and
execution of conservation measures at all potential sites where they occur
(Stattersfield et al. 1998; Riley 2002; Robin & Sukumar 2002). In 2000, the
‘Threatened Birds of the World’, which listed 1,186 species worldwide and 123
species in India (BirdLife International 2000).
Restricted range and threatened
bird species require special attention from ecologists and conservationists.
These species are more sensitive to disturbance and invite immediate
conservation concern (BirdLife International 2001; Lei et al. 2003, 2007;
Wijesinghe & Brooke 2005; Pandit et al. 2007). The present article
documented the threatened and near-threatened bird species recorded at Nangal
wetland to provide information about the current distribution and status of
bird species as baseline data where future population trends can be compared.
Material
and Methods
Study Area
Nangal Wetland is (Figure 1) (31.404°N & 76.368°E) located in Ropar District over the Sutlej River at
357m (1172ft). It spreads over an
area of 700 acres and is enriched with diverse flora, fauna and hydrology. This
wetland was created in the downstream of Bhakhra Reservoir for its strategic
importance as balancing reservoir to adjust the extra water during the rainy season.
The water of Nangal wetland is used for drinking and irrigation purposes. This
wetland is important for socio-economic, ecological, hydrological and
recreational values. This unique wetland ecosystem attracts thousands of
migratory birds during winter season every year for feeding and also provides
suitable feeding and breeding grounds for resident birds. However, it is very
important to document its various components of biodiversity and its
conservation needs and management measures due to its strategic importance (PSCST 1994). It was announced as a wetland
of national importance by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate
Change, Government of India in January, 2008 and included it under the National
Lake Conservation Program. It was also declared as a wildlife sanctuary on 10
August 2009. In 2020, Nangal wetland was declared as a Ramsar site. The
study area experiences various seasons and broadly divided into spring (March,
April, May), summer (June, July, August), autumn (September, October,
November), and winter (December, January, February) seasons.
The study on avifaunal diversity
at Nangal Wetland was conducted from February 2013 to January 2015. The point
count method (Sutherland 1999) was used for the census of birds at
the study sites. The study was undertaken by establishing 15 counting stations
of 50 m radius each in the study area with 100 m intervals between two counting
stations to cover the whole wetland area. Data were collected every month during winter season for five
days per month and twice a day from 0700 h to 1000 h and 1600 h to 1800 h and
during the summer season from 0600 h to 0900 h and 1700 h to 1900 h. The
observer waited for a few minutes after arrival at each station before
beginning the count. The bird count was carried out for ten minutes at each
station. Each bird was counted once either seen or heard within the radius.
Average count of birds at each station for five days was calculated. Identification has been done
with the help of various field guides (Ali & Ripley 1987; Grewal et al.
1995; Ali 1996; Grimmett et al. 2001; Kazmierczak 2002). Shannon
diversity index (H’) (Shannon & Weaver 1949) was calculated by using
PAST (PAST: Paleontological Statistics) Software.
Results
and Discussion
Nangal wetland harbours a
significant number of threatened bird species, belonging to different
categories of the IUCN Red List. During this study, a total of 155 bird species were recorded (Table 1).
Of these, 13 species belonging to seven orders and eight families were in the globally
threatened category of IUCN (Table 2). According to the IUCN Red List of birds (IUCN 2018), 7.7 %
were EN (n= 1), 39 % were VU (n= 5) and 54 % were NT (n= 7) (Figure 2). The ‘Endangered’ species
recorded from this wetland was Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus; ‘Vulnerable’ species included
Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Greater-Spotted Eagle Aquila
clanga, Sarus Crane Grus
antigone, Lesser
White-Fronted Goose Anser erythropus, and Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia
episcopus. The ‘Near
Threatened’ species included Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, River Lapwing Vanellus
duvaucelii, Indian
River Tern Sterna aurantia, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Oriental Darter Anhinga
melanogaster, Blossom-headed Parakeet Psittacula roseata, and Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula
eupatria.
Narayanan et al. (2011) recorded
a total of 225 species of birds from Kuttanad wetlands inclusive of 10 Red
Listed species, namely, Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga, Ferruginous
Pochard Aythya nyroca, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala,
Oriental White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus
philippensis, Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Greater-headed
Fish Eagle Haliaeetus ichthyaetus, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa,
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata, and European Roller Coracias
garrulous.
Some wetlands in Punjab are
highly infested with unwanted weeds mostly Eichhornia crassipes which
covers the entire surface area. But
Nangal wetland does not support these weeds and provide plenty of space for
migratory birds during winter season. Presence of 155 bird species in the
Nangal wetland indicates that the area is able to give ecological security to
the wetland dependent birds by providing sufficient quantity of food in the
form of microflora (aquatic planktonic species, e.g., Fragillaria spp., Spirogyra
spp., Oedogonium spp., Tabellaria spp., Cymbella spp., Gomphnema
spp.), mesoflora (aquatic vegetations, e.g., Lemna spp., Valisneria
spp., Azolla spp., Pistia spp.), microfauna (small microscopic
animals), and mesofauna (fish, insects, and small animals) in the wetland.
Besides these, resident birds were observed throughout the year due to the
availability of favorable conditions for breeding, feeding, roosting, and
nesting sites. This wetland not only attracts water birds, but is also
favorable and rewarding spot for terrestrial birds. The occurrence of high
number of terrestrial birds could be due to strong influence of vegetation
cover and presence of varieties of microhabitats which provide niche to large
numbers of terrestrial birds.
In the present investigations,
birds were classified on the basis of their occurrence at the study area, of
the 13 Red Listed species, three were migratory, eight were local migratory and
two were residents. Similarly, birds were also classified on the basis of their
feeding habits, it was observed that three species were herbivorous, four were
omnivorous and six were carnivorous. Chaudhry et al. (2012) study on threatened
and near-threatened avifauna of Pakistan recorded 16 species inclusive of
resident and migratory species. Of the total recorded species, nine were ‘Near
Threatened’, one ‘Endangered’, and one ‘Critically Endangered’.
The mean value and standard
deviation of occurrence of monthly birds count were calculated. A well-marked
seasonal variation in bird populations was recorded (Table 3). Generally the
population of waterbirds started increasing from August to January, with a peak
in month of December and January and thereafter started decreasing. During the
present study, a sharp decline in the waterbirds count was observed after the
month of February due to the partial departure of migratory species. Almost
complete absence of migratory waterbirds was noticed from April to July during
both years, only local resident birds reside during the remaining months.
Highest diversity in winter months was attributed to the influx of migratory
waterbirds during this season. Least diversity in the summer months was due to
the absence of migratory waterbirds species. Similar observations of seasonal
variations were also made by Saxena (1975) on avifauna of Keoladeo National
Park, Bharatpur and Bhat et al. (2009) on avifauna of Anekere wetland,
Karnataka. Giri & Chalise (2008) also recorded a greater diversity in
winter months due to the addition of migratory birds in this season. Kershaw
& Cranswick (2003) studied waterbirds become highly mobile in winter season
as living conditions rendered unfavorable during this cold weather. The
waterbirds start moving to other areas in response to hostile weather
conditions such as changes in water levels and diminishing availability of
food.
In order to investigate the variations
in diversity of bird species and ecological groups during different seasons of
the study period, the species diversity was calculated using Shannon-wiener
index. The Shannon-Weaver index of diversity was highest during winter (H’=
1.915) followed by autumn (H’= 1.868) then spring (H’= 1.534) and was lowest
during summer season (H’= 1.436). Value of index during autumn and winter
seasons had revealed the greatest diversity in terms of both species richness
and evenness. Gerritsen et al. (1998) revealed that the increase in the value
of H’ is directly associated with the increase in the number and distribution
of species during favorable periods (biotic diversity) within the community,
thereby confirming the present observations.
Brief account of the
IUCN Red Listed species at Nangal Wetland
1. Lesser White-Fronted Goose Anser erythropus (VU)
This migratory species was rarely
sighted and only a single individual of this species was recorded at this
wetland in the month of January, 2015.
This is a vagrant species to
northern India and generally found in islands, on foothills and mountain lakes.
This species feeds mainly on plant matter, such as grass, moss, and seeds
(Grimmett et al. 2001). Therefore, this wetland ensures the basic requirements
of Lesser White-Fronted Goose and considered as suitable place for this bird.
2. Common Pochard Aythya ferina (VU)
This species was mainly found in
open water with submerged and emergent vegetation at Nangal wetland.
3. Ferruginous Duck or White-eyed
Pochard Aythya nyroca (NT)
This species is chiefly migratory
and forms a small contributor to the duck population. During the entire study
period it occurred in small numbers. This duck remains hidden in the patches of
Typha angustifolia. This wetland meets the basic characteristics of a
habitat preferred by the Ferruginous Duck, i.e., floating, submerged
vegetation, and shallow marshy areas. The ducks leave the site by April end.
4. River Lapwing Vanellus
duvaucelii (NT)
The River Lapwing is a shore bird
and its preferred habitats include shallower areas (Ali 1996). This wetland
fulfils its habitat requirements as well as food and feeding habitat. They make
nests on sand banks and forage mainly on ground.
5. Indian River Tern Sterna aurantia (NT)
This species locally migrates
during the winter season and found in the study area during winter months only.
It arrived in August to September. It was found in the range of 2–6 individuals
during different months of the winter season.
6. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala (NT)
Painted Storks locally migrate
along with other water birds. They arrived in the study area during
September and left the area by March and mid April. Painted Storks are colonial
nesting species and build their nests on trees in small islands situated in
Nangal wetland. Nests were made of dry branches and twigs of plants.
7. Oriental Darter Anhinga
melanogaster (NT)
It occurs at Nangal wetland due
to roosting, feeding and breeding habitats provided by the wetland. It is found
in a range of 1–10 individuals during different months of the year.
8. Sarus Crane Grus antigone (VU)
It is a resident bird of India
but locally migrates to different localities subject to the availability of
feeding and nesting habitats. During winter season, it prefers the nearby
grasslands in the study area which provide nesting site for Sarus Crane. Their
nests were located in shallow water where short emergent vegetation was
dominant. Two adult pairs were seen in the surrounding area of Nangal wetland.
9. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
(VU)
The Woolly-necked Stork is a
widespread tropical species, which breeds in Africa and in Asia from India to
Indonesia (Ali & Ripley 1987). It migrates locally in the winter season in
India. It is observed that this bird stands calmly in an isolated shallow bank
of the wetland and abruptly pounced upon the fishes and other small organisms
in the water. Only a pair of this species was recorded at study area during
January 2015.
10. Greater-Spotted Eagle Aquila
clanga (VU)
Mainly a winter visitor, it was
spotted in the wetland during the month of August and finally left the wetland
completely by the end of March or mid April. Presence of feeding and roosting
sites, i.e., large trees (e.g., Acacia catechu, Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia
sissoo, Eucalyptus globules, Ficus religiosa, Ficus
benghalensis, Mangifera indica), stumps of broken trees, crevices in
the Shiwalik Hills largely attract this bird. It was seen in the range of 1–4
individuals during different months of the two-year period.
11. Egyptian Vulture Neophron perenopterus
(EN)
It is a resident species and
spotted mainly on large trees (Acacia catechu, Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia
sissoo, Eucalyptus globules, Ficus religiosa, Ficus
benghalensis, Mangifera indica) adjoining this wetland. Egyptian
Vultures feed upon animal carcasses nearby this wetland. It was found in the
range of 2–5 individuals during different months of the years.
12. Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria (NT)
Alexandrine Parakeet is a local
migratory species and found in maximum number during the winter months. Its
preferred habitat is forested area where it lives in holes of dry trees, thick
canopy of shady trees, and hill crevices. This area also provides a variety of
food (i.e. plant buds, fruits, figs, berries), safe nesting and roosting sites.
Maximum of 30–32 individuals were seen in the month of January 2014.
13. Blossom-headed Parakeet Psittacula roseata (NT)
Its preferred habitats were the
open woodland and forested areas; generally found in flocks of 10–12. Its
occurrence in the study area concluded that the area provides favorable
conditions for breeding, feeding, and nesting purposes.
In the present study, the
diversity of birds reflects that most of the species were observed mainly due to
the availability of various types of microhabitats used by different species of
birds. Each of these microhabitats (e.g., beneath the boulders, large stones,
pebbles, and submerged vegetation) was supported with a variety of food such as
fishes, crustaceans, mud-dwelling invertebrates, aquatic plants, and plankton.
Unfortunately, it is observed that these organisms are on declining spree due
to fragmentation of habitats caused by reclamation. During the last five
decades, rampant deforestation has occurred in the catchment area of the
wetland – hills were denuded which cause the silting up of the wetland. The
siltation ultimately reduces the depth as well as water carrying capacity of
the wetland.
Besides fragmentation of
habitats, other anthropogenic activities like discharge of effluents from
adjoining industries (National fertilizer limited; PACL), domestic sewage from
Nangal township, rampant deforestation in the catchment area, siltation, and
tourism pose a major threat to its existence. The discharge of pollutants
should be stopped by strictly enforcing stringent environmental legislations of
the nation. Awareness should be created amongst the local people towards
conservation and to understand the importance of such diverse avifauna existing
in this wetland.
Conclusions
This study provides an
ornithological baseline data of Red Listed species of the wetland for
researchers and general public. It will also provide an opportunity to compare
trends of population of these birds in future. Therefore, it is recommended
that the sites, where threatened bird species were recorded should be monitored
regularly in future especially during midwinter waterfowl counts.
Table 1. Check list of birds
recorded from Nangal Wetland.
|
|
Zoological name |
Common name |
|
|
Order: Anseriformes |
|
|
|
Family: Anatidae |
|
|
1. |
Anas poecilorhyncha J.R. Forester, 1781 |
Indian Spot-billed Duck |
|
2. |
Anas strepera Linnaeus, 1758 |
Gadwall |
|
3. |
Aythya ferina (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Common Pochard |
|
4. |
Netta rufina (Pallas
1773) |
Red-crested Pochard |
|
5. |
Aythya nyroca (Guldenstadt, 1770) |
Ferruginous Duck |
|
6. |
Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 |
Mallard |
|
7. |
Tadorna ferruginea (Pallas, 1764) |
Ruddy Shelduck |
|
8. |
Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Common Shelduck |
|
9. |
Anser indicus (Latham, 1790) |
Bar-headed Goose |
|
10. |
Anser anser (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Graylag Goose |
|
11. |
Anser erythropus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Lesser White-Fronted Goose |
|
12. |
Anas acuta (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Northern Pintail |
|
13. |
Anas clypeata Linnaeus, 1758 |
Northern Shoveller |
|
14. |
Anas crecca Linnaeus, 1758 |
Common Teal |
|
15. |
Anas querquedula Linnaeus, 1758 |
Garganey |
|
16. |
Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Tufted Duck |
|
17. |
Anas penelope Linnaeus, 1758 |
Eurasian Wigeon |
|
18. |
Sarkidiornis melanotos (Pennant, 1769) |
Knob-billed Duck |
|
|
Order: Accipitriformes |
|
|
|
Family: Accipitridae |
|
|
19. |
Accipiter badius (Gmelin, 1788) |
Shikra |
|
20. |
Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 1783) |
Black Kite |
|
21. |
Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines, 1789) |
Black-winged Kite |
|
22. |
Aquila rapax (Temminck, 1828) |
Tawny Eagle |
|
23. |
Aquila pomarina (Brehm CL, 1831) |
Lesser-spotted Eagle |
|
24. |
Aquila clanga Pallas, 1811 |
Greater-spotted Eagle |
|
25. |
Aquila nipalensis Hodgson, 1833 |
Steppe Eagle |
|
26. |
Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Osprey |
|
27. |
Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Western Marsh Harrier |
|
28. |
Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Asiatic Sparrowhawk |
|
29. |
Haliastur indus (Boddaert, 1783) |
Brahminy Kite |
|
30. |
Neophron percnopterus |
Egyptian Vulture |
|
|
Order: Apodiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Apodidae |
|
|
31. |
Apus affinis (J.E. Gray, 1830) |
Indian House Swift |
|
|
Order: Bucerotiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Bucerotidae |
|
|
32. |
Ocyceros birostris (Scopoli, 1786) |
Indian Grey Hornbill |
|
|
Order: Charadriiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Charadriidae |
|
|
33. |
Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 1783) |
Red-wattled Lapwing |
|
34. |
Vanellus duvaucelii (Lesson, 1826) |
River Lapwing |
|
35. |
Vanellus leucurus (Lichtenstein,
1823) |
White-tailed Lapwing |
|
36. |
Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Black Winged Stilt |
|
37. |
Actitis hypoleucos Linnaeus, 1758 |
Common Sandpiper |
|
38. |
Charadrius dubius Scopoli, 1786 |
Little Ringed Plover |
|
39. |
Charadrius hiaticula Linnaeus, 1758 |
Common Ringed Plover |
|
40. |
Sterna aurantia J.E. Gray, 1831 |
Indian River Tern |
|
|
Order: Ciconiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Ardeidae |
|
|
41. |
Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Cattle Egret |
|
42. |
Ardea alba Linnaeus, 1758 |
Eastern Large Egret |
|
43. |
Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Little Egret |
|
44. |
Ardea intermedia Wagler, 1829 |
Intermediate Egret |
|
45. |
Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832) |
Indian Pond Heron |
|
46. |
Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Black-crowned Night Heron |
|
47. |
Ardea purpurea Linnaeus, 1766 |
Purple Heron |
|
48. |
Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 |
Grey Heron |
|
|
Ciconiidae |
|
|
49. |
Mycteria leucocephala (Pennant, 1769) |
Painted Stork |
|
50. |
Ciconia episcopus (Boddaert, 1783) |
Woolly-necked Stork |
|
|
Laridae |
|
|
51. |
Larus brunnicephalus (Jerdon, 1840) |
Brown-headed Gull |
|
52. |
Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus (Pallas, 1773) |
Palla’s Gull/ Great Black-headed Gull |
|
|
Phalacrocoracidae |
|
|
53. |
Phalacrocorax niger (Vieillot, 1817) |
Little Cormorant |
|
54. |
Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Great Cormorant |
|
55. |
Anhinga melanogaster Pennant, 1769 |
Oriental Darter |
|
|
Podicipedidae |
|
|
56. |
Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Great Crested Grebe |
|
57. |
Tachybaptus ruficollis (Pallas, 1764) |
Little Grebe |
|
58. |
Podiceps nigricollis Brehm, CL, 1831 |
Black Necked Grebe |
|
|
Order: Columbiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Columbidae |
|
|
59. |
Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838) |
Eurasian Collared Dove |
|
60. |
Streptopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Laughing Dove |
|
61. |
Streptopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) |
Spotted Dove |
|
62. |
Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 |
Blue Rock Pigeon |
|
63. |
Treron phoenicoptera (Latham, 1790) |
Yellow Footed Pigeon |
|
|
Order: Coraciiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Alcedinidae |
|
|
64. |
Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
White Breasted Kingfisher |
|
65. |
Alcedo atthis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Small Blue Kingfisher |
|
66. |
Ceryle rudis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Lesser Pied Kingfisher |
|
|
Meropidae |
|
|
67. |
Coracias benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Indian Roller |
|
68. |
Merops orientalis Latham, 1801 |
Little Green Bee-Eater |
|
69. |
Merops leschenaulti Vieillot, 1817 |
Chestnut Headed Bee-Eater |
|
|
Order: Cuculiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Cuculidae |
|
|
70. |
Centropus sinensis (Stephens, 1815) |
Greater Coucal |
|
71. |
Eudynamys scolopacea (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Asian Koel |
|
72. |
Hierococcyx varius (Vahl, 1797) |
Common Hawk Cuckoo |
|
73. |
Clamator jacobinus (Boddaert, 1783) |
Jacobin Cuckoo |
|
|
Order: Galliformes |
|
|
|
Family: Phasianidae |
|
|
74. |
Coturnix coturnix (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Grey Or Common Quail |
|
75. |
Perdicula asiatica Latham, 1790 |
Jungle Bush Quail |
|
76. |
Gallus gallus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Red Jungle Fowl |
|
77. |
Francolinus pondicerianus (Gmelin, 1789) |
Grey Francolin |
|
78. |
Melanoperdix niger (Vigors, 1829) |
Black Partridge |
|
79. |
Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 |
Indian Peafowl |
|
|
Order: Gruiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Gruidae |
|
|
80. |
Grus antigone (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Sarus Crane |
|
|
Rallidae |
|
|
81. |
Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Common Swamphen |
|
82. |
Porphyrio porphyrio (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Indian Purple Moorhen |
|
83. |
Amaurornis phoenicurus (Pennant, 1769) |
White-breasted Water Hen |
|
84. |
Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 |
Common Coot |
|
|
Order: Passeriformes |
|
|
|
Family: Acrocephalidae |
|
|
85. |
Acrocephalus dumetorum (Vieillot, 1817) |
Blyth's Reed Warbler |
|
|
Alaudidae |
|
|
86. |
Alauda gulgula Franklin, 1831 |
Oriental Or Small Skylark |
|
87. |
Galerida cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Indian Crested Lark |
|
88. |
Mirafra cantillans Blyth, 1845 |
Singing Bush Lark |
|
|
Campephagidae |
|
|
89. |
Pericrocotus cinnamomeus (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Small Minivit |
|
90. |
Pericrocotus ethologus Bangs &
Phillips, 1914 |
Long Tailed Minivet |
|
|
Certhiidae |
|
|
91. |
Certhia nipalensis Blyth, 1845 |
Rusky-flanked Treecreeper |
|
|
Cisticolidae |
|
|
92. |
Prinia socialis Sykes, 1832 |
Ashy Prinia Or Ashy Wren
Warbler |
|
93. |
Prinia gracilis (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823) |
Streaked Wren Warbler |
|
|
Corvidae |
|
|
94. |
Corvus splendens Vieillot, 1817 |
House Crow |
|
95. |
Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827 |
Indian Jungle Crow |
|
96. |
Dendrocitta vagabunda (Latham, 1790) |
Rufous Treepie |
|
97. |
Dicrurus macrocercus Vieillot, 1817 |
Black Drongo |
|
|
Emberizidae |
|
|
98. |
Emberiza melanocephala Scopoli, 1769 |
Black-headed Bunting |
|
99. |
Emberiza buchanani Blyth, 1845 |
Grey-necked Bunting |
|
|
Estrildidae |
|
|
100. |
Lonchura malabarica (Linnaeus, 1758) |
White-throated Munia |
|
101. |
Lonchura punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Scaly-breasted Munia |
|
102. |
Amandava amandava (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Red Avadavat |
|
|
Hirundinidae |
|
|
103. |
Hirundo smithii Leach, 1818 |
Indian Wire-tailed Swallow |
|
104. |
Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758 |
Barn Swallow |
|
|
Laniidae |
|
|
105. |
Lanius excubitor Linnaeus, 1758 |
Great Grey Shrike |
|
106. |
Lanius vittatus Valenciennes, 1826 |
Bay-backed Shrike |
|
107. |
Lanius schach Linnaeus, 1758 |
Long Tailed Shrike |
|
|
Locustellidae |
|
|
108. |
Megalurus palustris Horsfield, 1821 |
Striated Marsh Warbler |
|
|
Motacilladae |
|
|
109. |
Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758 |
White Wagtail |
|
110. |
Motacilla cinerea Tunstall, 1771 |
Grey Wagtail |
|
111. |
Motacilla maderaspatensis Gmelin, JF, 1789 |
White-browed Wagtail |
|
112. |
Motacilla citreola Pallas, 1776 |
Citrine Wagtail |
|
|
Muscicapidae |
|
|
113. |
Saxicoloides fulicata (Linnaeus, 1776) |
Indian Robin |
|
114. |
Copsychus saularis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Oriental Magpie Robin |
|
115. |
Phoenicurus ochruros (Gmelin, 1774) |
Black Redstart |
|
116. |
Orthotomus sutorius (Pennant, 1769) |
Indian Tailor Bird |
|
117. |
Cercomela fusca (Blyth, 1851) |
Indian Chat |
|
118. |
Saxicola torquata (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Common Stone Chat |
|
119. |
Luscinia svecica (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Blue Throat |
|
120. |
Myiophonus caeruleus (Scopoli, 1786) |
Himalayan Whistling Thrush |
|
121. |
Terpsiphone paradisi |
Asian Paradise Flycather |
|
122. |
Ficedula westermanni (Sharpe, 1888) |
Little Pied Flycather |
|
123. |
Eumyias thalassinus (Swainson, 1838) |
Verditer Flycather |
|
|
Oriolidae |
|
|
124. |
Oriolus oriolus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Golden Oriole |
|
|
Paridae |
|
|
125. |
Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 |
Great Tit |
|
|
Passeridae |
|
|
126. |
Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Indian House Sparrow |
|
|
Pittidae |
|
|
127 |
Pitta brachyuran (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Indian Pitta |
|
|
Ploceidae |
|
|
128. |
Ploceus philipinus (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Weaver Bird |
|
129. |
Ploceus benghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Black-breasted Weaver |
|
130. |
Ploceus manyar (Horsfield, 1821) |
Streaked Weaver |
|
|
Pycnonotidae |
|
|
131. |
Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Red-Vented Bulbul |
|
132. |
Pycnonotus leucotis (Gould, 1836) |
White-Eared Bulbul |
|
|
Rhipiduridae |
|
|
133. |
Rhipidura albicollis (Vieillot, 1818) |
White-Throated Fantail |
|
|
Sturnidae |
|
|
134. |
Sturnus pagodarum (Gmelin, 1789) |
Brahminy Starling |
|
135. |
Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Common Myna |
|
136. |
Acridotheres ginginianus (Latham, 1790) |
Bank Myna |
|
137. |
Sturnus contra Linnaeus, 1758 |
Asian Pied Starling |
|
|
Sylviidae |
|
|
138. |
Turdoides striatus (Dumont, 1823) |
Jungle Babbler |
|
139. |
Turdoides caudatus (Dumont, 1823) |
Common Babbler |
|
140. |
Turdoides earlei (Blyth, 1844) |
Striated Babbler |
|
131. |
Chrysomma sinense (Gmelin, 1789) |
Yellow Eyed Babbler |
|
|
Nectariniidae |
|
|
142. |
Dicaeum agile (Tickell, 1833) |
Thick-billed Flowerpecker |
|
143. |
Nectarinia asiatica (Latham, 1790) |
Purple Sunbird |
|
|
Zosteropidae |
|
|
144. |
Zosterops palpebrosus (Temminck, 1824) |
Indian White-Eye |
|
|
Order: Pelecaniformes |
|
|
|
Family: Threskiornithidae |
|
|
145. |
Pseudibis papillosa (Temminck, 1824) |
Red-naped Ibis |
|
|
Order: Piciformes |
|
|
|
Family: Megalaimdae |
|
|
146. |
Megalaima zeylanica (Gmelin, JF, 1788) |
Large Green Barbet |
|
147. |
Megalaima haemacephala (Statius Muller, 1776) |
Crimson-breasted Barbet |
|
|
Picidae |
|
|
148. |
Dinopium benghalense (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Black-rumped Flameback |
|
|
Order: Psittaciformes |
|
|
|
Family: Psittacidae |
|
|
149. |
Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769) |
Roseringed Parakeet |
|
150. |
Psittacula cyanocephala (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Plum Headed Parakeet |
|
151. |
Psittacula eupatria (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Alexandrine Parakeet |
|
152. |
Psittacula roseata Biswas, 1951 |
Blossom-headed Parakeet |
|
|
Order: Strigiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Strigidae |
|
|
153. |
Athene brama (Temminck,
1821) |
Spotted Owlet |
|
|
Tytonidae |
|
|
154. |
Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) |
Barn Owl |
|
|
Order: Upupiformes |
|
|
|
Family: Upupidae |
|
|
155. |
Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758 |
Common Hoopoe |
Table 2. Checklist of threatened
and near-threatened bird species observed at Nangal Wetland during February
2013–January 2015.
|
Order |
Family |
Scientific name |
Common name |
Feeding habit |
Status |
IUCN status |
|
Anseriformes |
Anatidae |
Anser erythropus |
Lesser White-Fronted Goose |
Herbivorous |
Migratory |
VU |
|
Aythya ferina |
Common Pochard |
Omnivorous |
Omnivorous |
VU |
||
|
Aythya nyroca |
Ferruginous Duck |
Omnivorous |
Migratory |
NT |
||
|
Charadriiformes |
Charadriidae |
Vanellus duvaucelii |
River Lapwing |
Omnivorous |
Local Migratory |
NT |
|
Sterna aurantia |
Indian River Tern |
Carnivorous |
Local Migratory |
NT |
||
|
Ciconiformes |
Ciconiidae |
Mycteria leucocephala |
Painted Stork |
Carnivorous |
Local Migratory |
NT |
|
Ciconia episcopus |
Woolly-necked Stork |
Carnivorous |
Local Migratory |
VU |
||
|
Phalacrocoracidae |
Anhinga melanogaster |
Oriental Darter |
Carnivorous |
Resident |
NT |
|
|
Gruiformes |
Gruidae |
Grus antigone |
Sarus Crane |
Omnivorous |
Local Migratory |
VU |
|
Accipitriformes |
Accipitridae |
Aquila clanga |
Greater-spotted Eagle |
Carnivorous |
Local Migratory |
VU |
|
Neophron perenopterus |
Egyptian Vulture |
Carnivorous |
Resident |
EN |
||
|
Psittaciformes |
Psittacidae |
Psittacula eupatria |
Alexandrine Parakeet |
Herbivorous |
Local Migratory |
NT |
|
|
|
Psittacula roseata |
Blossom-headed parakeet |
Herbivorous |
Local Migratory |
NT |
Table 3. Seasonal average
variations of threatened bird species of Nangal Wetland during February 2013–
January 2015.
|
|
Name of the Bird |
Spring |
Summer |
Autumn |
Winter |
Annual Count |
Mean |
|
1. |
Lesser White-Fronted Goose |
- |
- |
- |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.025 |
|
2. |
Common Pochard |
- |
- |
- |
1.133 |
1.133 |
0.283 |
|
3. |
Ferruginous Duck |
0.86 |
- |
5.12 |
4.896 |
10.876 |
2.719 |
|
4. |
River Lapwing |
- |
0.25 |
2.01 |
2.145 |
4.405 |
1.101 |
|
5. |
Indian River Tern |
0.333 |
0.233 |
3.418 |
3.546 |
7.53 |
1.882 |
|
6. |
Painted Stork |
0.508 |
- |
10.636 |
11.133 |
22.277 |
5.569 |
|
7. |
Woolly-necked Stork |
- |
- |
- |
0.333 |
0.333 |
0.083 |
|
8. |
Oriental Darter |
1.003 |
0.528 |
2.993 |
3.965 |
8.489 |
2.122 |
|
9. |
Sarus Crane |
- |
0.333 |
1.375 |
1.633 |
3.341 |
0.835 |
|
10. |
Greater-spotted Eagle |
0.4 |
0.525 |
2.133 |
3.133 |
6.191 |
1.547 |
|
11. |
Egyptian Vulture |
1.701 |
1.206 |
2.376 |
2.718 |
8.001 |
2.0 |
|
12. |
Alexandrine Parakeet |
5.8 |
4.205 |
22.773 |
26.778 |
59.556 |
14.889 |
|
13. |
Blossom-headed Parakeet |
- |
- |
23.055 |
30.103 |
53.158 |
13.289 |
|
Total avifaunal count |
10.605 |
7.28 |
75.889 |
91.613 |
185.39 |
46.061 |
|
|
Shannon-Weaver diversity index H’ |
1.534 |
1.436 |
1.868 |
1.915 |
|
|
|
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