Documentation of avian diversity of Khaparwas Bird Sanctuary in Jhajjar district in Haryana, India

Abstract

Khaparwas is a designated Bird Sanctuary under the administrative control of Wildlife Department of Government of Haryana in India vide notification dated 27th March, 1991. Its total area is 204.36 Acres. During the study period of four years (1997-2002), a total of 164 species of birds belonging to 16 Orders, 44 families were recorded from the Khaparwas bird Sanctuary in Jhajjar district in Haryana, India. Out of 164 species of birds, 104 species were residents, 45 species were winter migratory, 9 species of birds local migratory, 5 species were summer migratory and one species of bird was Straggler. In so far as, Abundance Status is concerned, 64 species of birds were Occasional, 60 species Common and 40 species were Uncommon. Birds like Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa, Jungle Bush Quail Perdicula asiatica, Red Jungle Fowl Gallus gallus, Eurasian Curlews Numenius arquata, Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo, and Stork Billed Kingfisher Halcyon capensis were observed as specific to this area. Prominent migratory birds like Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope, Garganey Anas querquedula, Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha, Common Teal Anas crecca, Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago and Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia were recorded in winter season only. In view of the present studies, it is strongly recommended that Khaparwas Bird Sanctuary in Jhajjar district in Haryana must be conserved in a better way, due to its proximity to Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary and Keoldeo National Park in Rajasthan and the rich avian diversity observed in present studies. Khaparwas has the potential to occupy a National Character as a Sanctuary.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v6i1.5597