Avian Diversity in Walayar Lake, Palaghat District, Kerala, India

Abstract

Investigation of avian diversity and their natural ecosystem at the local and regional level is the first step to understand and classifying a specific region's ecological importance and, in this regard, the present work is undertaken. Walayar Lake is located at Westernghats having rich aquatic vegetation and harbors several kind animals including birds. The present study deals with the avifaunal diversity in and around the Walayar lake. A study on the avifauna diversity was conducted from January 2018 to December 2019. In this survey conducted for a period of 2 years, forty-three species of birds belong 14 different orders and 28 families were recorded. Of these 43 species, 19 were resident to this area. 9 were migrant species while 7 were winter migrant species, 6 local were migrant species and 2 were resistant migratory species. Regarding the occurrence, 28 species were common to the place, 7 species were uncommon, 3 were fairly common and 2 were found occasionally. Regarding feeding habits, 21 were insectivores, 13 species were carnivores, 6 were omnivores followed by 2 frugivores and 1 granivore. As per IUCN Status, 38 species are least concern (LC) and 5species near threatened (NT). There are so many conservation challenges such as anthropogenic alteration of the habitats in and around the lake is a major threat to the biodiversity of avifauna.