The Water Birds of Mavoor Wetland, Kerala, South India
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World Journal of Zoology 7 (2): 98-101, 2012 ISSN 1817-3098 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjz.2012.7.2.6216 The Water Birds of Mavoor Wetland, Kerala, South India 12K.M. Aarif and Muhammad Basheer 1Kallingal House, Athanikunnu, Mampad College Po, Malapuram dt, Kerala, South India 2Palishakottu purayil, Elettil Po, Koduvally, Calicut, Kerala, South India Abstract: Bird Community of Mavoor Wetlands in Calicut District, Kerala State was studied during Sept 2009 to Aug 2010. The methodology followed was mainly observations using binocular. A total of 57 species of birds, belonging to 16 families were recorded from the area during the period. Among them 17 species are migrants. Highest number of birds was recorded in the month of January and the lowest was observed June. Little Egret, Little Cormorant, Purple Moorhen, Purple Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Indian Pond-Heron, Little Grebe, Lesser Whistling-Duck, River Tern, Whiskered Tern, Garganey etc. were the most abundant resident and migrant species found in the Mavoor wetlands. Key words: Brids Mavoor Wetland Conservation Problem INTRODUCTION season the water level raises up to 2 to 4 meters. Studies on the avian fauna of Mavoor wetland are very few, Wetlands are extremely important areas throughout except the regular Asian Water fowl Census since past the world for wildlife protection, recreation, sediment five years and a PhD work on the diving behaviour of control, flood prevention [1]. Wetlands are important Cormorants and Darter [6]. bird habitats and birds use them for feeding, roosting, Systematic list of the birds of this region is lacking. nesting and rearing young [2, 3].Wetlands of Kerala are Hence the present study documented the avian fauna of perhaps the least ornithologically studied ecosystems this wetland from mainly direct observation and block [4], in Kerala wetlands are mainly used for agriculture, count from March 2009 to February 20109. Study areas aquaculture, reclamation for harbouring and industrial were visited once in a week, the observations were made purposes, disposing the waste materials, discharging between 0800 to 1200 hrs and birds were identified. The the industrial effluents and municipal waste water, wood abundance status of birds are categorised into Common seasoning, dumping dredged soil, coir retting and for (Com) - seen on most of the visits, uncommon (UnCom) - fishing [5]. seen on a few visits and Rare (Ra) - Seen once or twice. Residential status of species is classified into resident (R), MATERIALS AND METHODS local movement (LM), Migrants (M) and straggler (S). The Breeding species (Br), Non breeding species (NBr) are Mavoor wetland is one among the most important also included. Some birds are resident and they are wetlands in the north Malabar region because thousands breeding in different habitats of Kerala but in Mavoor of ducks and other migrants are choosing as their wetland they are seen only for a limited time and act as a wintering during post monsoon season. This wetland is migrant hence they are included in the category of local located on the north-west side of Mavoor town and lies movement. Winter visitors from the other region of Indian on bank of Chaliyar River, in the Kozhikode district. This Sub continent and Central Asian countries are included in wetland is approximately 20 km away from the Kozhikode the category of Migrant city. This wetland includes five inter connected sites in the Mavoor Panchayath named Pipe Line, Kalpalli, RESULTS Palliyol, Mavoor Vayal and Grasim Lagoon, with a total area of 37.23148 ha of water logged area with muddy A total of 57 species of birds belonged to 16 families banks. The major portions of this wetland are flat areas were recorded from the Mavoor wetland (Table 1). During that remain submerged throughout the year. During rainy present study, 17 species of migrants were also recorded. Corresponding Author: Muhammad Basheer, Palishakottu purayil, Elettil Po, Koduvally, Calicut, Kerala, South India. 98 World J. Zool., 7 (2): 98-101, 2012 Table 1: Checklist of birds recorded in the Mavoor Wetland with their residential and breeding status Sl.No Family Common name Scientific name Breeding Abundance Status 1. Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Br Com R 2. Phalacrocoracidae Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger Br Com R 3. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo NBr UnCom R/LM 4. Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis NBr UnCom R/LM 5. Anhingidae Darter Anhinga melanogaster Br Com R 6. Ardeidae Little Egret Egretta garzetta NBr Com R/LM 7. Median Egret Mesophoyx intermedia NBr Com R/LM 8. Large Egret Casmerodius albus Br Com R 9. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis NBr Com R/LM 10. Western Reef-Egret Egretta gularis NBr UnCom M 11. Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii Br Com R 12. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Br Com R 13. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Br Com R 14. Black Crowned Night- Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Br Com R 15. Little Green Heron Butorides striatus NBr Ra R/LM 16. Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Br Ra R/LM 17. Chestnut Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus NBr Ra R/LM 18. Black Bittern Dupetor flavicollis Br Ra R/LM 19. Ciconiidae White-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus NBr Ra LM 20. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala NBr Ra LM 21. Asian Openbill-Stork Anastomus oscitans NBr Com LM 22. Threskiornithidae Oriental White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus NBr Com LM 23. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus NBr Com M 24. Anatidae Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica Br Com R 25. Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelianus Br Com R 26. Northern Pintail Anas acuta NBr Ra M 27. Garganey Anas querquedula NBr Com M 28. Spot-bill Duck Anas poecilorhyncha NBr UnCom M 29. Accipitridae Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus NBr Ra M 30. Black Kite Milvus migrans NBr Com LM 31. Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Br Com R 32. Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus NBr UnCom M 33. Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela NBr UnCom LM 34. Shikra Accipiter badius Br Com R 35. Pandionidae Osprey Pandion haliaetus NBr Com M 36. Phasianidae Red Spurfowl Galloperdix spadicea Br Com R 37. Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus NBr Ra LM 38. Rallidae White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Br Com R 39. Watercock Gallicrex cinerea Br Com R 40. Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca NBr Uncom M 41. Purple Moorhen Porphyrio porphyrio Br Com R/LM 42. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus NBr Com R/LM 43. Common Coot Fulica atra NBr Ra M 44. Jacanidae Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Br Com R 45. Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus Br Com R 46. Charadriidae Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius NBr UnCom R/LM 47. Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus NBr UnCom M 48. Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Br Com R 49. Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus NBr UnCom R/LM 50. Scolopacidae Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago NBr Com M 51. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis NBr Com M 52. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus NBr Com M 53. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola NBr Com M 54. Recurvirostridae Black- Winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Br Com R/LM 55. Laridae Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus NBr Com M 56. River Tern Sterna aurantia NBr Com LM 57. Saunders Little Tern Sterna saundersi NBr UnCom M 99 World J. Zool., 7 (2): 98-101, 2012 14 Total Number of 12 species Number of breeding Species 10 8 6 No of species 4 2 0 Pittidae Irenidae Laridae Sylviina Picidae Ardeidae Turdinae Strigidae Corvidae Rallidae Ploceinae Jacanidae Cuculidae Laniidae Dicaeidae Anatidae Oriolidae Estrildidae Dicruridae Sturnidae Ciconiida Coraciidae Upupidae Apodidae Motacillida Alcedinidae Passerinae Artamidae Accipitridae Psittacidae Timaliinae Meropidae Anhingidae Phasianidae Capitonidae Charadriidae Columbidae Pandionidae Hirundinidae Monarchinae Nectariniidae Scolopacidae Pycnonotidae Podicipedidae Threskiornithid Phalacrocoraci Family Campephagidae Recurvirostridae Fig. 2: Family- wise number of species and breeding species of birds in Mavoor wetland, Calicut district, Kerala Of these migratory birds, three were ducks, five waders interactions [9]. Pollution, mainly from the chemicals is and two terns. Mavoor Wetland is an abode of many the major threats faced by birds in this ecosystem. The passerine species also. Highest numbers of birds were Grasim factory’s effluent purifying tank - named as recorded during the month of January and lowest in June. lagoon, contains enough deposits of sulphur and Little Egret Egreta garzeta, Little Cormorant mercury. This area is one of the major feeding grounds of Phalacrocorax niger, Purple Moorhen Porphyrio many ducks, terns and other resident species. The local porphyrio, Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, Black-crowned people use water that has leaked out from this tank for Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Indian Pond-Heron agricultural activities and there by this polluted water Ardeola grayii, Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, would reach all the adjoining bird visiting areas. During Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendricygna javanica, River Tern summer season the local dwellers empty the scanty water Sterna aurantia, Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus, bodies and catch fish and in winters they add copper Garganey Anas querquedula etc. were the most abundant sulphate to water bodies and the affected fish rise to the resident and migrant species found in the Mavoor surface of the water. Uncontrolled fishing depletes the wetlands. food sources of wetland birds. Small sized gill nets are Breeding of the 22 species of birds were recorded in used for fishing which results in the removal of even small this wetland (Figure 1). Of these Lesser Whistling-Duck, sized fishes, indirectly affecting the availability of food for Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Purple Moorhen, Lesser Pied birds. Kingfisher Ceryle rudis, White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis etc. are regular breeding species in CONCLUSIONS this wetland. The study proved that if the present ecological DISCUSSION characteristics of this wet land continues, the birds were unable to inhabit this habitat in the immediate future. Lower species richness of birds in this area is Proper awareness class regarding the importance of birds attributed due to the smaller size of the wetland [7].