Wetland Birds Assemblages in Man-Made Sacred Ponds of Kurukshetra, India

Abstract

Wetland bird assemblages of four man-made, perennial and sacred ponds of Kurukshetra, Haryana, India were studied to assess the species composition and richness along with their seasonal variation during April 2015 to March 2016. A total of 62 species of wetland birds belonging to 43 genera, 17 families and 8 orders were recorded. Anatidae was the richest mentioned family with 15 species and constituting 24.19% of the wetland bird community in the study area. These wetlands support 32 winter migrants, 25 residents and 05 summer migrants. Most of winter migrant species were encountered from November to March. In the month of January, assemblage of wetland birds was recorded highest compared to the remaining months. Species richness, diversity and evenness of wetland birds varied significantly (P < 0.05) between seasons as well as among habitats. Among recorded species, four species are considered as near threatened, and one species as vulnerable in IUCN Red list. Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) and Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) are listed in Appendix II of CITES. This study emphasizes the importance of these sacred ponds for resident and migratory as well as special-status wetland bird species. Weed infestation and anthropogenic activities such as festivals, random assemblies and gatherings, dumping of waste materials, noise pollution and electric lightening in the complexes of the sacred ponds during festivals are some major threats to aquatic avifauna. We discuss possible management measures of these sacred wetlands from conservation perspective of wetland bird community.