Community Structure and Population Dynamics of Wetland Birds in Man-Made Sacred Wetland of Kurukshetra, Haryana, India

摘要

Bird surveys were conducted at Jyoti Sarovar, one of the most revered of holy ponds of Kurukshetra, from April 2014 to March 2015 to assess the species composition and richness of wetland bird community. Point counts and direct observations were used to record bird species. A total of 49 species of wetland birds belonging to 17 families and 8 orders were recorded. Anatidae and Ardeidae (n=8 each) were the most diverse families in the study area. Of recorded bird species, 5 were summer migrants, 22 were winter migrants and 22 were residents. January was found to be the peak of wetland bird assemblage. Species richness, species diversity and evenness of wetland birds in different months varied between 22-44, 2.59-3.30 and 0.80-0.90 respectively. Among the bird species recorded, Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) and River Tern (Sterna aurantia) are listed as near threatened species in the Red List of the international Union for the Conservation of Nature. This study underlines the importance of Jyoti Sarover as an important habitat for wetland birds in-eluding migratory species as well as species with conservation priorities.