Diversity, status and seasonality of wetland birds in rural ponds of District Kurukshetra, Haryana, India

Abstract

Man-made and perennial ponds occurring in the rural landscape of India support a rich socio-economic and cultural heritage. Surveys were conducted from April 2019 to March 2020 to document diversity, status and seasonality of wetland birds in four man-made and perennial rural ponds of District Kurukshetra, Haryana. Point counts and direct observations were used to record bird species. A total of 70 species of wetland birds belonging to 46 genera, 18 families and 08 orders were identified, of which 38 were winter migrants, 30 were residents and 2 were summer migrants. Charadriiformes was the most dominant order with 6 families and 19 species. Anatidae (n=16) was the most diverse bird family. Carnivore (28 species) recorded to be the most represented foraging guild. Species richness, abundance, diversity and evenness differed significantly (P < 0.05) between seasons as well as among ponds. Of the species recorded, five species are classified as Near Threatened and two species as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; one species is listed in Appendix I and two species in Appendix II of CITES, and two species are included in Schedule I of the IWPA, 1972. The region also supported 27 species whose global population trend is decreasing. This reveals that rural wetlands of the study area are the potential habitat for globally threatened bird species and that appropriate conservation measures are needed to protect these species. This study will provide a baseline for future conservation measures and rural pond management programmes.