Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2025 | 17(4): 26789–26802
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9432.17.4.26789-26802
#9432 | Received 20 September 2024 | Final received 07 April 2025 |
Finally accepted 11 April 2025
Avifaunal diversity and
conservation status of waterbirds in Pillaimadam Lagoon, Palk Bay, India
H. Byju 1, H. Maitreyi
2, N. Raveendran 3 , S. Ravichandran 4 & Reshmi Vijayan 5
1,2,4 Centre of Advanced Study in
Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu 608502, India.
3 Iragukal Amritha Nature Trust,
61, Ramachandra Thadaga Street, Thirumangalam, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625706,
India.
5 Department of Zoology, BJM
Government College, Chavara, Kollam, Kerala 691583, India.
1 byjuhi@gmail.com (corresponding
author), 2 maithgd@gmail.com, 3 iant.ravee@gmail.com, 4
sravicas@gmail.com, 5 reshmidileeb@gmail.com
Editor: Anil Kumar, Zoological Survey of India,
Patna, India. Date of publication: 26 April 2025
(online & print)
Citation: Byju,
H., H. Maitreyi, N. Raveendran, S. Ravichandran & R. Vijayan (2025). Avifaunal
diversity and conservation status of waterbirds in Pillaimadam Lagoon, Palk
Bay, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(4): 26789–26802. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9432.17.4.26789-26802
Copyright: © Byju et al. 2025. 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:
None.
Competing interests:
The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Byju H, has worked on the
shorebirds and waterbirds in the Gulf of Mannar region for the past decade and
presently a member of the biodiversity panel of five bird sanctuaries,
including three Ramsar sites in the district and the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere
Reserve. Maitreyi H is a PhD
scholar working on seabirds in the region. Raveendran N is a naturalist with a
decade of experience in birds and awareness education, and serves as a
biodiversity member in the bird sanctuaries and the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere
Reserve. Ravichandran S is a
professor with three decades of experience in marine ecology. Reshmi Vijayan is an associate professor
working on birds and marine systems.
Author contributions: BH—conceptualisation, design of work, writing, and editing;
MH—data curation, analysis, mapping, and writing; RN-—data compilation,
writing; SR—writing and editing; RV—writing.
Acknowledgements: We thank all our birding
volunteers for several trips over the years for the bird monitoring activities.
We are grateful to Kishore A C for helping with the map. Special thanks to
Vidhya and Dharshini from the Lady Doak College Madurai and Priya Rajendran for
their support in fieldwork. We are also grateful to the support of the forest
department staff from the Mandapam range and the Gulf of Mannar Wildlife
Division, including all the wardens, for their continuous support, active
involvement, and guidance during several phases of the work. We also remember
the contributions of a few local community members and the children who accompanied
us several times.
Abstract: Avifaunal surveys are important
for developing targeted conservation strategies for specific sites and species,
especially in undocumented critical wintering grounds for shorebirds within the
Central Asian Flyway. In this context, we present a first-time avifaunal
checklist at the Pillaimadam Lagoon, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. A
total of 108 species of birds belonging to 43 families under 16 orders were
recorded. Order Charadriiformes was the most prevalent (34 species), followed
by Passeriformes (28 species), and Pelecaniformes (15 species). Family-wise,
the highest species richness was recorded for Scolopacidae and Laridae (11
species each). Winter visitors accounted for 33.3% (36 species), with other
categories including Resident (51 species), Resident/Non-Breeding (17 species),
Local Migrant (3 species), and one Passage Migrant—Rosy Starling Pastor
roseus. The lagoon harbours five ‘Near Threatened’, two
‘Vulnerable’, one ‘Endangered’ (Siberian Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus),
and one unassessed species (Hanuman Plover Charadrius seebohmi) as per
the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and 35 species enlisted in Appendix II
of the Convention of the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
(CMS), emphasizing the need for conserving this coastal wetland as a ‘protected
area.’ Hence, the current baseline data on avifaunal diversity is the first
comprehensive bird list from Pillaimadam Lagoon.
Keywords: Central Asian Flyway, Gulf of
Mannar, habitat, lagoon, protected area, shorebirds, waterbirds, wetland,
winter visitors
Introduction
The study of avifaunal
distribution is pivotal in understanding the ecological health of an area
(Llanos et al. 2011; Fraixedas et al. 2020; Byju et al. 2024a), as birds serve
as excellent bioindicators (Sekercioglu 2012; Egwumah et al. 2017) due to their
sensitivity to environmental changes (Callaghan et al. 2019; Piersma &
Lindstrom 2024) especially in diverse coastal environments (Jayanthi et al.
2021; Rashiba et al. 2022). Avifauna, encompassing all bird species within a
particular region, provides critical insights into the broader ecological
dynamics (Kati & Sekercioglu 2006; Byju et al. 2023a), including habitat
quality (Naujokaitis-Lewis et al. 2009), food availability, and the impact of
anthropogenic activities (Todd et al. 2016). Since global environment changes,
such as habitat loss, and climate change, continue to accelerate, there is an
increasing need to document and analyze the distribution patterns of bird
species to initiate conservation strategies (Gadgil 1996; Gaston 2000; Byju et
al. 2023b). Birds occupy varied ecological niches, making their distribution
patterns reflective of the health of different ecosystems (Kazmierczak 2006;
Grimmett et al. 2011). Changes in bird distribution can reveal changes in
habitat conditions and biodiversity over the time (Kattan & Franco 2004;
Hasuia et al. 2024). Understanding the patterns is particularly important in
regions undergoing environmental changes (Huang et al. 2023; Byju et al.
2024b), as they can help prioritize conservation efforts and guide habitat
management practices (Newton 2004; Paul & Cooper 2005).
Avifaunal distribution is
influenced by habitat structure, food availability, predation pressure, and
interspecific competition among the primary biotic factors, while climate,
topography, water depth, salinity, and tidal patterns constitute important
abiotic factors (Cody 1985; Day et al. 2012). Human activities, including
urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural expansion, which often lead to
habitat fragmentation and degradation, also have significant impact (Ma et al.
2023). In addition to these factors, broader climatic patterns, such as
temperature and precipitation, play a crucial role in determining the geographical
range of bird species (Thomas & Lennon 1999). Coastal lagoons are not an
exception to these environmental changes and anthropogenic pressures (Kennish
& Paerl 2010). Coastal lagoons are important for migratory waterbirds in
their long inter-continental journeys (Alfaro & Clara 2007; Miotto et al.
2023) and are vital feeding, breeding, and resting grounds for numerous other
bird species (Chandana et al. 2012; Silva et al. 2013). Coastal lagoon like
Pillaimadam is one of such vital habitats and is also an important breeding
site for the newly discovered taxa Hanuman Plover Charadrius seebohmi
(Byju et al. 2023e). It is essential to monitor and study these ecosystems to
formulate effective conservation strategies.
On the southeastern coast of
India, the Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu has five bird sanctuaries,
including three Ramsar sites (Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary, Therthangal Bird
Sanctuary and Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary) and the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere
Reserve (GoM) (Byju et al. 2023c). Recent studies from the area have been
highlighted on the coastal regional avifauna from Valinokkam Lagoon (Byju et
al. 2023b), 21 islands of GoM (Byju et al. 2023c) and Karangadu mangroves (Byju
et al. 2023d). Pillaimadam Lagoon on Palk Bay is an unexplored area in terms of
avifauna. Hence, the present study aimed to create comprehensive data on the
avifauna with a focus on diversity, migratory status, and national and global
conservation issues. This will assist the forest department in future for the
conservation and management of the lagoon and upgrading it to a protected
status.
Materials
and Methods
Study Area
The Pillaimadam Lagoon (9.282º N
& 79.108º E) is situated in the Palk Bay region, a shallow marine region
between India and Sri Lanka. The bottom of the lagoon is mostly muddy. The
lagoon is bordered by grass on the landward area, invasive Neltuma juliflora
and palm Borassus flabellifer trees, which provide a habitat for
numerous land birds with sand dunes on the seaward side (Figure 1). The
salinity fluctuates significantly between the monsoon and summer season.
Rainwater from surrounding areas is emptied into the lagoon during the monsoon,
and in the summer, it is cut off from the sea. The maximum salinity is 25 parts
per thousand (ppt) in rainy seasons, and salt formations occur during summer as
small fresh-water puddles are formed along the border of the lagoon during the
monsoon (Balachandran 1990) which supports the breeding activities of a few
waterbirds. Fishing activities are found only during a few months when the
water is abundant. The presence of halophytes like Arthocnemum macrostachyum
and the occasional presence of Saueda sp. is seen on the edges of
the lagoons.
Bird surveys and data analysis
Bird
surveys were done once a month between August 2021 and July 2022 in all
regional seasons – summer, pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon to establish
an avifaunal checklist. Surveys were conducted during low tides during the
monsoon time for shorebirds, as in other seasons the sea mouth was closed to
the lagoon, during the peak hours of their activity, from 0600–1000 h and
1600–1800 h. We followed both block count and direct visual count methods
(Howes & Bakewell 1989; Bibby et al. 2000). In this method, four scanning
points were used as points of count (Figure 1), birds in the blocks were
observed using field binoculars (10 × 50) and spotting scopes (Vanguard 14*70)
and photographed with a digital camera with 100–400 mm telephoto lens, and
species not identified in the field were later identified with the help of
field guides (Grimmett et al. 2011; Hayman et al. 2011). After arriving at each
scanning point, the bird counts for the waterbirds started after five minutes,
for birds to get acclimatized to the human presence. The observations recorded
while moving from one scanning point to another were entered as incidental
records. The data analysis was done using MS Excel 2019.
Migratory
Status: The residential status of the birds is grouped under different
categories like Resident (R), Resident/Not Breeding (R/NB), Passage Migrant
(PM), and Winter Visitor (WV) depending on their timing and duration of
occurrence (Grimmett et al. 2011).
Relative
abundance: Based on the frequency of bird sightings the relative abundance of
birds is documented as common (C) seven to nine times; uncommon (UC) three to
six times; and rare (Ra) once or twice (MacKinnon & Phillipps 1993).
Relative Diversity: Relative diversity (RDi)
was calculated to represent the percentage of total species within a family to
the total number of species. It was calculated using the following formula
(Koli 2014).
RDi = Number of species in a family / Total
number of species × 100
IUCN
status: IUCN Red List focus includes species classified as ‘Least Concern’
(LC), ‘Near Threatened’ (NT), ‘Vulnerable’ (VU), and ‘Endangered’ (EN)
highlighting their conservation importance in Pillaimadam Lagoon. The common
name, scientific name, IUCN Red List status, and migratory status are followed
(Praveen & Jayapal 2023).
SOIB population trends: We
considered the State of India’s Bird (SOIB) report to analyze the current
population trend of the bird species in India from the Pillaimadam Lagoon. The
current trend corresponds to the average annual change in species abundance
over the past eight years (2015–2022). According to SOIB, different categories
of population trend indices are, Insufficient Data which means too few reports,
Trend Inconclusive means 95% confidence interval >2%, Rapid Decline is
decline >2.7%, Decline is >1.1%, Increase is >0.9%, and Rapid Increase
is >1.6% (State of India’s Bird 2023).
CMS status: We analyzed the
conservation priority species based on the Convention for the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). The avifaunal species listed in
Appendix II of CMS correspond to migratory species that need international
cooperation and international agreements for conservation and management (CMS
2024).
Results
A total of 108 species of birds
belonging to 43 families under 16 orders were recorded from the Pillaimadam
Lagoon (Table 1). Order-wise, Charadriiformes were the most predominant (34
species in five families), followed by Passeriformes (28 species in 17 families),
and Pelecaniformes (15 species in six families). In contrast, the orders
Pheonicopteriformes, Caprimulgiformes, Gruiformes, Bucerotiformes,
Strigiformes, Piciformes, and Psittaciformes were each represented by a single
species (Figure 2). Families Scolopacidae and Laridae had 11 representative
species each; followed by Charadriidae with nine species and Ardeidae with
seven. Anatidae with three species was followed by Ciconiidae,
Threskiornithidae, Phalacrocoracidae, and Burhinidae representing two species
each, and Phoenicopteridae, Rallidae, Pelicanidae, Anhingidae, and
Recurvirostridae with one species each (Table 1).
Migratory status
The residential status of the
birds indicated that Winter Visitors (WV) constituted 33.3% (36 species) of the
observed species (Figure 3). All the species recorded from Scolopacidae and
Laridae are Winter Visitors (11 species each) and Charadriidae has seven Winter
visitors and two Residents, i.e., Hanuman Plover Charadrius seebohmi and
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus. Resident species were the most
dominant (51 species), followed by Resident/Not Breeding (17 species), three
Local Migrants (LM) Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, Oriental Honey
Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus and White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus
leucogaster and one Passage Migrant (PM) Rosy Starling Pastor roseus. The
breeding shorebirds in the lagoon include Black-winged Stilt Himantopus
himantopus, Indian Thick-knee Burhinus indicus, Great Thick-knee Esacus
recurvirostris, regional endemic Hanuman Plover, and Red-wattled Lapwing
(Table 1).
Relative abundance
The relative abundance indicated
that 76 species were common (C), 24 were uncommon (UC), and eight were rare
(Ra). The rare species include ducks like Garganey Spatula querquedula,
Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata, and Northern Pintail Anas acuta;
shorebirds like Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva; terns like
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica and Whiskered Tern Chlidonias
hybrida, and land birds namely, Common Iora Aegithina tiphia and
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica. The Uncommon ones were waterbirds like
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus (Image 1), Western Reef Heron,
Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, Glossy Ibis Plegadis
falcinellus, Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Great Thick-knee,
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula, Common Sandpiper Actitis
hypoleucos, Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis, Common Greenshank
Tringa nebularia, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica,
Slender-billed Gull Chroicocephalus genei, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus
fuscus, Greater Black-backed Gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus and Little
Tern Sternula albifrons and land birds like Booted Eagle Hieraaetus
pennatus, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus,
Indian Paradise Flycatcher Tersiphone paradisi, Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis
daurica, White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus, Brahminy Starling Sturnus
pagodarum and Rosy Starling (Table 1).
Relative Diversity (RDi)
Relative diversity index shows
that families, i.e., Scolopacidae and Laridae dominate the landscape (10.2% and
11 species each), followed by Charadriidae (8.3% with 9 species), Ardeidae
(6.5% with 7 species), and Accipitridae (5.6% with 6 species); Columbidae and
Cuculidae (3.7% and 4 species each); Anatidae, Corvidae, Alaudidae, and
Sturnidae (2.78% with 3 species each); Phasianidae, Ciconiidae,
Threskiornithidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Burhinidae, Meropidae, Alcedinidae,
Nectariniidae, Motacillidae, Cisticolidae, Hirundinidae, and Pycnonotidae (1.81
% and 2 species each); remaining 20 families constitute 0.93% and one species
each (Table 2).
IUCN Red List Status
The site supported five ‘Near
Threatened’ species which include four shorebirds and one waterbird: Bar-tailed
Godwit, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata, Great Thick-knee, Ruddy
Turnstone Arenaria interpres and Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus
philippensis. Two ‘Vulnerable’ species, Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis
squatarola and Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, one
‘Endangered’ species, namely, Siberian Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus
and one species Hanuman Plover is Not Evaluated, remaining 99 species were
assessed ‘Least Concern’ according to the IUCN Red List (IUCN 2024) (Figure
4).
SOIB population trends
Based on SOIB indices, we
calculated the Indian national trends of the avifauna in Pillaimadam Lagoon as
follows, 26% of species populations are stable; 24% are trend inconclusive and
the rest are rapid increase (5%); increase (7%); decline (17%); and rapid
decline (17%). The trend of four species was not available in SOIB including
Spotted Owlet, Hanuman Plover, Common Ringed Plover, and Greater Sand Plover Charadrius
leschenaultii (Table 1).
CMS Status
Among the 108 species from the
Pillaimadam Lagoon, 32.4% (30 water birds and 4 land birds) are protected under
the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals under
Appendix II (Table 1).
Discussion
Among the 108 species, 50% were
landbirds, and the order Passeriformes with 30 species dominated the
terrestrial birds. This showed the lagoon supported these birds with suitable
vegetative cover on the peripheries. The high representation of waterbirds in
Pillaimadam Lagoon is consistent with the importance of such habitats as
critical stopovers and wintering sites for migratory species (Skagen 2018). The
dominance of the order Charadriiformes, with 34 species, aligns with studies of
coastal ecosystems globally, where shorebirds are often the most abundant due
to the availability of feeding grounds along intertidal zones (Warnock &
Takekawa 2006; Manikannan
et al. 2012). The Siberian Sand Plover, Little Stint, and Kentish Plover
dominated the bird species populations. A minimum of a few hundred to one
thousand individuals of these species were observed from the lagoon. In
particular, the dominance of species such as Siberian Sand Plover and Little
Stint reflects the lagoon’s role in supporting many long-distance migrants.
Similar patterns have been observed in wetland systems across India, where
coastal and inland wetlands serve as essential wintering grounds for migratory
shorebirds (Rahmani et al. 2016).
Most shorebird species were
documented from late August until the end of May, while a few were found over
the summer in small numbers during 15 June–31 July (Balachandran 1990) in the
study area. We observed that 11 species of shorebirds over-summering here:
Common Redshank Tringa totanus, Common Greenshank, Black-bellied Plover,
Curlew Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus,
Eurasian Curlew, Siberian Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Kentish Plover Charadrius
alexandrines, and Little Stint Calidris minuta. We also found some
Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis and Greater Crested Terns Thalasseus
bergii throughout the year. Similarly, several over-summering shorebird
species have been reported from Kadalundi Vallikkunnu Community Reserve (KVCR)
(Aarif et al. 2020) and Changaram wetlands (Anand et al. 2023) on the west
coast and various sites on the south-east coast of India (Byju et al. 2024a).
Hence, this leads to the elucidation that food resources for the over-summering
shorebirds are available throughout the year in this lagoon due to fresh
seawater coming into the lagoon during the dry season as it gets completely cut
off from the sea.
Among other water birds,
including herons, egrets, and ibises, only one was a local migrant (LM), the
Western Reef Heron, and the rest were residents and not breeding on the
site. Twelve species were common, and five species were uncommon. The most
dominant waterbird species identified in the lagoon were Intermediate Egret
Ardea intermedia, Little Egret Egreta garzeta, and Indian
Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis. Apart from the shorebirds and other
waterbirds mentioned, five species of gulls, viz., Slender-billed Gull,
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus
brunnicephalus, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and Greater Black-headed Gull
were documented from this site. Of these, the most dominant ones were
Black-headed and Brown-headed Gulls. Six species of terns, viz., Little Tern,
Gull-billed Tern, Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia, Whiskered Tern,
Greater Crested Tern and Lesser Crested Tern were also encountered. Greater
Crested Tern, followed by the Lesser Crested Tern, were the most dominant of
the group throughout the study period (Image 2).
Conservation status
Anthropogenic activities such as
land reclamation, pollution, and over-extraction of water resources have
degraded India’s wetlands (Sundar & Kittur 2013), posing a serious threat
to the bird species. The presence of five ‘Near Threatened’ species, two ‘Vulnerable’
and one ‘Endangered’ species highlights the ecological significance of this
lagoon for bird conservation. The presence of probing birds like Bar-tailed
Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, and Eurasian Curlew reflects the lagoon’s critical
role as a stopover site during migration, providing essential feeding and
resting areas. Great Thick-knee, a species typically found in coastal areas,
further reinforces the site’s ecological value. Hanuman Plover (Image 3),
currently unassessed by the IUCN Red List, adds to the lagoon’s conservation
relevance, as little is known about this species’ population trends and
ecological requirements (Byju et al. 2023e), making it a subject of interest
for further studies. The lagoon’s suitability for these waterbirds may be attributed
to its rich aquatic biodiversity, prey availability, and relatively undisturbed
environment compared to other wetlands in the region. The observation that
32.4% of the recorded species from the study are being protected under CMS
Appendix II suggests the need for international cooperation in managing and
conserving this wetland (CMS 2024). As noted in other studies, such
recognitions highlight the importance of coordinated conservation efforts
across migratory pathways (Kirby et al. 2008). Three species recorded in
Pillaimadam, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, and Curlew Sandpiper are also
enlisted as Central Asian Flyway Priority Species in the Arctic Migratory Birds
Initiative (AMBI), further emphasizing the need to secure this wetland (Arctic
Council 2024).
According to the SoIB report, the
national trends for many wetland-dependent species, especially the coastal
wetland species indicate a population decline (State of India’s Birds 2023). In
Pillaimadam Lagoon, the trend analysis based on SoIB indices shows a mixed
picture, with 34% of species populations declining or rapidly declining. This
is a concerning statistic, reflecting broader patterns of wetland degradation,
loss of breeding habitat, and declining prey availability (Wetlands
International 2020). SoIB analysis results also mark the importance of
extensive scientific documentation in such wetlands, as 24% of the species
population trend in Pillaimadam could not be concluded because of too few
reports. The results of this study align with the broader trends in wetland
bird populations across the Indian subcontinent, even though the methods are
not completely reliable (Maitreyi 2024).
Conservation Significance
Removal of invasive trees like Neltuma
juliflora from the peripheries of the lagoon has dented the breeding
population of Great Thick-knee and Black-winged Stilt in the area. These trees
served as a natural barrier for the birds in the lagoon. The removal of these
invasive trees should be carried out scientifically in phases to avoid any disturbance
during the breeding season rather than removal in a single stroke, as a few
landbirds also use these trees for nesting. The freshwater puddles that formed
after the rains have completely exposed the area, making those patches
vulnerable for birds for roosting and breeding due to consistent human
activities. A basic avifaunal checklist in an unexplored area like this study
provides baseline data for identifying potential new sites for conservation
priority. Moreover, it attracts bird watchers, helps tourism with the local
community’s support and helps conservationists develop strategies to mitigate
threats in the new wintering site in the CAF.
Conclusion
This study is noteworthy as this
is the first avifaunal study from the area. Even though earlier avifaunal
studies in the area were restricted to bird-ringing studies of gulls, terns,
and shorebirds. This study could aid in filling knowledge gaps and help in
conservation management understanding the distribution of bird species and
prioritizing conservation of numerous waterbirds and shorebirds. Establishing
this preliminary data could provide a basis for tracking bird population
changes over time, which helps conservation efforts. Lack of formal protection
for the habitat may also make it vulnerable to coastal reclamation projects.
Prioritization of habitat conservation in the Lagoon should also be considered
to save the breeding areas of regional endemic species like Hanuman Plover.
Table 1. Avifaunal checklist of Pillaimadam Lagoon.
|
Order/Family/Common name |
Scientific name |
IUCN Red List status |
Population trends in India
(SOIB 2023) |
Resident status |
Relative abundance |
CMS status |
|
Anseriformes |
||||||
|
Anatidae |
||||||
|
Garganey |
Spatula querquedula |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
Ra |
Appendix II |
|
Northern Shoveler |
Spatula clypeata |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
Ra |
Appendix II |
|
Northern Pintail |
Anas acuta |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
Ra |
Appendix II |
|
Phoenicopteriformes |
||||||
|
Phoenicopteridae |
||||||
|
Greater Flamingo |
Phoenicopterus roseus |
LC |
Rapid decline |
R/NB |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Columbiformes |
||||||
|
Columbidae |
||||||
|
Rock Pigeon |
Columba livia |
LC |
Increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Spotted Dove |
Spilopelia chinensis |
LC |
Increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Laughing Dove |
Spilopelia senegalensis |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Eurasian Collared Dove |
Streptopelia decaocto |
LC |
Increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Caprimulgiformes |
||||||
|
Apodidae |
||||||
|
Asian Palm Swift |
Cypsiurus balasiensis |
LC |
Insufficient data |
R |
C |
— |
|
Cuculiformes |
||||||
|
Cuculidae |
||||||
|
Asian Koel |
Eudynamys scolopaceus |
LC |
Increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Greater Coucal |
Centropus sinensis |
LC |
Rapid increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Blue-faced Malkoha |
Phaenicophaeus viridirostris |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Jacobin Cuckoo |
Clamator jacobinus |
LC |
Stable |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Gruiformes |
||||||
|
Rallidae |
||||||
|
White-breasted Waterhen |
Amarurornis phoenicurus |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Galliformes |
||||||
|
Phasianidae |
||||||
|
Grey Francolin |
Ortygornis pondicerianus |
LC |
Increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Indian Peafowl |
Pavo cristatus |
LC |
Rapid increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Pelecaniformes |
||||||
|
Ciconiidae |
||||||
|
Asian Openbill |
Anastomus oscitans |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Painted Stork |
Mycteria leucocephala |
LC |
Decline |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Pelecanidae |
||||||
|
Spot-billed Pelican |
Pelecanus philippensis |
NT |
Rapid decline |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Ardeidae |
||||||
|
Cattle Egret |
Bubulcus ibis |
LC |
Stable |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Grey Heron |
Ardea cinerea |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Indian Pond Heron |
Ardeola grayii |
LC |
Stable |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Intermediate Egret |
Ardea intermedia |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Great Egret |
Ardea alba |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R/NB |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Little Egret |
Egretta garzetta |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Western Reef Heron |
Egretta gularis |
LC |
Decline |
LM |
UC |
— |
|
Threskiornithidae |
||||||
|
Black-headed Ibis |
Threskiornis melanocephalus |
LC |
Stable |
R/NB |
UC |
— |
|
Glossy Ibis |
Plegadis falcinellus |
LC |
Stable |
R/NB |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Phalacrocoracidae |
||||||
|
Indian Cormorant |
Phalacrocorax fuscicollis |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Little Cormorant |
Phalacrocorax niger |
LC |
Stable |
R/NB |
C |
— |
|
Anhingidae |
||||||
|
Oriental Darter |
Anhinga melanogaster |
LC |
Stable |
R/NB |
UC |
— |
|
Charadriiformes |
||||||
|
Recurvirostridae |
||||||
|
Black-winged Stilt |
Himantopus himantopus |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Burhinidae |
||||||
|
Indian Thick-knee |
Burhinus indicus |
LC |
Insufficient data |
R |
C |
— |
|
Great Thick-knee |
Esacus recurvirostris |
NT |
Rapid decline |
R |
UC |
— |
|
Charadriidae |
||||||
|
Black-bellied Plover |
Pluvialis squatarola |
VU |
Decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Pacific Golden Plover |
Pluvialis fulva |
LC |
Stable |
WV |
Ra |
— |
|
Siberian Sand Plover |
Charadrius mongolus |
EN |
Decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Greater Sand Plover |
Charadrius leschenaultii |
LC |
Data Not available |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Kentish Plover |
Charadrius alexandrinus |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Common Ringed Plover |
Charadrius hiaticula |
LC |
Data Not available |
WV |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Hanuman Plover |
Charadrius seebohmi |
NA |
Data not available |
R |
C |
|
|
Little Ringed Plover |
Charadrius dubius |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
C |
— |
|
Red-wattled Lapwing |
Vanellus indicus |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Scolopacidae |
||||||
|
Whimbrel |
Numenius phaeopus |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Eurasian Curlew |
Numenius arquata |
NT |
Rapid decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Little Stint |
Calidris minuta |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Curlew Sandpiper |
Calidris ferruginea |
VU |
Decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Common Sandpiper |
Actitis hypoleucos |
LC |
Decline |
WV |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Ruddy Turnstone |
Arenaria interpres |
NT |
Rapid decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Marsh Sandpiper |
Tringa stagnatilis |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Wood Sandpiper |
Tringa glareola |
LC |
Decline |
WV |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Common Greenshank |
Tringa nebularia |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Common Redshank |
Tringa totanus |
LC |
Decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Bar-tailed Godwit |
Limosa lapponica |
NT |
Trend inconclusive |
WV |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Laridae |
||||||
|
Slender-billed Gull |
Chroicocephalus genei |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Black-headed Gull |
Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
LC |
Decline |
WV |
C |
— |
|
Brown-headed Gull |
Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus |
LC |
Decline |
WV |
C |
— |
|
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
Larus fuscus |
LC |
Stable |
WV |
UC |
— |
|
Greater Black-headed Gull |
Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus |
LC |
Decline |
WV |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Little Tern |
Sternula albifrons |
LC |
Decline |
WV |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Caspian Tern |
Hydroprogne caspia |
LC |
Decline |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Greater Crested Tern |
Thalasseus bergii |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Lesser Crested Tern |
Thalasseus bengalensis |
LC |
Stable |
WV |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Gull-billed Tern |
Gelochelidon nilotica |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
Ra |
Appendix II |
|
Whiskered Tern |
Chlidonias hybrida |
LC |
Rapid decline |
WV |
Ra |
— |
|
Accipitriformes |
||||||
|
Accipitridae |
||||||
|
Booted Eagle |
Hieraaetus pennatus |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
WV |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
Black Kite |
Milvus migrans |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Brahminy Kite |
Haliastur indus |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Shikra |
Accipiter badius |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
Appendix II |
|
Oriental Honey-buzzard |
Pernis ptilorhynchus |
LC |
Stable |
LM |
UC |
Appendix II |
|
White-bellied Sea Eagle |
Haliaeetus leucogaster |
LC |
Stable |
LM |
C |
— |
|
Strigiformes |
||||||
|
Strigidae |
||||||
|
Spotted Owlet |
Athene brama |
LC |
Data not available |
R |
C |
— |
|
Bucerotiformes |
||||||
|
Upupidae |
||||||
|
Common Hoopoe |
Upupa epops |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Piciformes |
||||||
|
Picidae |
||||||
|
Black-rumped Flameback |
Dinopium benghalense |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Coraciiformes |
||||||
|
Meropidae |
||||||
|
Blue-tailed Bee-eater |
Merops philippinus |
LC |
Rapid increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Green Bee-eater |
Merops orientalis |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Coraciidae |
||||||
|
Indian Roller |
Coracias benghalensis |
LC |
Decline |
R |
C |
— |
|
Alcedinidae |
||||||
|
Pied Kingfisher |
Ceryle rudis |
LC |
Decline |
R |
C |
— |
|
White-throated Kingfisher |
Halcyon smymensis |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Psittaciformes |
||||||
|
Psittacidae |
||||||
|
Rose-ringed Parakeet |
Psittacula krameri |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Passeriformes |
||||||
|
Artamidae |
||||||
|
Ashy Wood Swallow |
Artamus fuscus |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Dicruridae |
||||||
|
Black Drongo |
Dicrurus macrocercus |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Laniidae |
||||||
|
Brown Shrike |
Lanius cristatus |
LC |
Stable |
WV |
UC |
— |
|
Corvidae |
||||||
|
House Crow |
Corvus splendens |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Large-billed Crow |
Corvus macrorhynchos |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Rufous Treepie |
Dendrocitta vagabunda |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Monarchidae |
||||||
|
Indian Paradise-flycatcher |
Tersiphone paradisi |
LC |
Stable |
R |
UC |
— |
|
Nectariniidae |
||||||
|
Purple-rumped Sunbird |
Leptocoma zeylonica |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Purple Sunbird |
Cinnyris asiaticus |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Estrildidae |
||||||
|
Indian Silverbill |
Euodice malabarica |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Passeridae |
||||||
|
House Sparrow |
Passer domesticus |
LC |
Decline |
R |
C |
— |
|
Motacillidae |
||||||
|
Paddy Field Pipit |
Anthus rufulus |
LC |
Decline |
R |
C |
— |
|
White-browed Wagtail |
Motacilla maderaspatensis |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Aegithinidae |
||||||
|
Common Iora |
Aegithina tiphia |
LC |
Increase |
R |
Ra |
— |
|
Alaudidae |
||||||
|
Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark |
Eremopterix griseus |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
Jerdons Bushlark |
Mirafra affinis |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Oriental Skylark |
Alauda gulgula |
LC |
Rapid decline |
R |
C |
— |
|
Cisticolidae |
||||||
|
Common Tailorbird |
Orthotomus sutorius |
LC |
Rapid increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Ashy Prinia |
Prinia socialis |
LC |
Increase |
R |
C |
— |
|
Leiotrichidae |
||||||
|
Yellow-billed Babbler |
Argya affinis |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Acrocephalidae |
||||||
|
Blyth's Reed Warbler |
Acrocephalus dumetorum |
LC |
Stable |
WV |
UC |
— |
|
Hirundinidae |
||||||
|
Barn Swallow |
Hirundo rustica |
LC |
Decline |
WV |
Ra |
— |
|
Red-rumped Swallow |
Cecropis daurica |
LC |
Stable |
R |
UC |
— |
|
Pycnonotidae |
||||||
|
Red-vented Bulbul |
Pycnonotus cafer |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
C |
— |
|
White-browed Bulbul |
Pycnonotus luteolus |
LC |
Rapid increase |
R |
UC |
— |
|
Sturnidae |
||||||
|
Brahminy Starling |
Sturnus pagodarum |
LC |
Trend inconclusive |
R |
UC |
— |
|
Common Myna |
Acridotheres tristis |
LC |
Stable |
R |
C |
— |
|
Rosy Starling |
Pastor roseus |
LC |
Rapid decline |
PM |
UC |
— |
IUCN Red List status: LC—Least
Concern | NT—Near Threatened | VU—Vulnerable | EN—Endangered | NA—Not assessed
| Resident status: WV—Winter Visitor | LM—Local Migrant | R—Resident |
R/NB—Resident/Non-Breeding | Relative abundance: C—Common | UC—Uncommon |
Ra—Rare.
Table 2. Relative diversity index (RDi) of various avifaunal families in
Pillaimadam Lagoon.
|
Families |
Number of species |
RDi (%) |
|
Scolopacidae |
11 |
10.19 |
|
Laridae |
11 |
10.19 |
|
Charadriidae |
9 |
8.33 |
|
Ardeidae |
7 |
6.48 |
|
Accipitridae |
6 |
5.56 |
|
Columbidae |
4 |
3.70 |
|
Cuculidae |
4 |
3.70 |
|
Anatidae |
3 |
2.78 |
|
Corvidae |
3 |
2.78 |
|
Alaudidae |
3 |
2.78 |
|
Sturnidae |
3 |
2.78 |
|
Phasianidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Ciconiidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Threskiornithidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Phalacrocoracidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Burhinidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Meropidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Alcedinidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Nectariniidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Motacillidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Cisticolidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Hirundinidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Pycnonotidae |
2 |
1.85 |
|
Phoenicopteridae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Apodidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Rallidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Pelecanidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Anhingidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Recurvirostridae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Strigidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Upupidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Picidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Coraciidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Psittacidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Artamidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Dicruridae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Laniidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Monarchidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Estrildidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Passeridae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Aegithinidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Leiotrichidae |
1 |
0.93 |
|
Acrocephalidae |
1 |
0.93 |
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