Available online at http://www.journalcra.com INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CURRENT RESEARCH International Journal of Current Research Vol. 5, Issue, 02, pp.266-270, February, 2013

ISSN: 0975-833X RESEARCH ARTICLE

Study on Distribution of Avian Fauna of , ,

1Mustafa Shah, G., 1Ulfat Jan and *,2Mohammad Raashid Wani

Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir, , , Jammu and Kashmir 190006, India

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article History: Survey of avian fauna in Dachigam national park, Srinagar, Kashmir was conducted from October 2010 to

Received 25th November, 2012 September 2011. A total of 111 belonging to 80 genera, 14 orders and 35 families were recorded. Out of Received in revised form these: 74 were resident, 6 were winter visitor, 21 were summer visitor and 10 were local altitudinal migrants. The 12th December, 2012 prominent species include wagtails, kingfishers, , doves, crows, warblers, chats, thrushes, Accepted 21th January, 2013 woodpeckers, flycatchers, tits, magpie, sparrows and buntings. Bird species diversity (Shannon- Weiner Formula) Published online 14th February, 2013 was highest during summer (4.19) followed by spring (4.12). Autumn (3.81) and winter (3.64) seasons witnessed relatively less diversity.

Key words:

Avian fauna; Diversity: Distribution;

Dachigam; Srinagar: Kashmir. Copy Right, IJCR, 2013, Academic Journals. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION which are bounded by high ridges on north, northeast and northwest there abodes a glacial oligotrophic water body of Marsar which Bird communities have been studied fairy well both in temperate and serves as a source of fresh snow melt drinking water to a portion of tropical forests (Blake 2007; Willson and Comet 1996). the capital city. Dachigam also supplies water to some agricultural Understanding the diversity and structure of bird communities is lands and is a major feeding source to through Dachigam essential to delineate the importance of regional or local landscapes Dagwan Nallah. There are numerous brooks and other tributaries in for avian conservation (Kattan and Franco, 2004). are the region. Within the natural boundary of Dachigam National Park considered good indicators of environmental quality and are near its western edges lies the water reservoir of Sarband, making a frequently being used to monitor environmental and ecosystem health seasonal lake, adjacent to which is located the Harwan green park. (Centerbury et al. 2000). Bird assemblages based on species The average climate of Dachigam is sub-mediterranean or sub alpine composition, abundance, richness and diversity along with other temperate with 4 distinct seasons a year, Spring (March-May), attributes such as rarity and endemism are frequently used for Summer (June –August), Autumn (September-November) and ornithological evaluations and assignment of conservation value to Winter (December-February). The flora of the park is dominated by sites (Daniels, 1989). The present status of avifauna of Dachigam species like Prunus avium, Prunus persica, Malus domesticus, , National Park is unknown. Very little work has been done related to Juglans regia, Salix alba, Morus alba, Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana, the avifauna of Dachigam National Park. The aim of this study was Populus alba, Pinus wallichiana, Quercus robur, etc. Dachigam to generate the baseline informational and to represent the forms the only natural home of the famous Hangul deer, Cervus comprehensive picture of bird community structure of Dachigam elaphus hanglu. The other outstanding mammalian representatives national park. This information will be help in future for species are Moschus chrysogaster, Ursus arctos, Selenarctos thibetanus, specific work on avifauna of Dachigam National Park and for Panthera pardus, Martes flavigula, Lutra lutra, Marmota caudata, launching conservation strategies. Felis chaus, Mustela sibirica etc.

Study Area METHODOLOGY

Dachigam with a peculiar and interesting topography is in the form of For the purpose of bird study, Dachigam National Park was divided an undulating mountain valley system spread over an area of 141 sq into 14 transects, ten in lower Dachigam and four in upper km. Its nearest edge is about 20km from the capital city of Kashmir, Dachigam, so that majority of the study area was covered. Figure 1. the Srinagar and lies in its northeast. It lies between 34o05′-34o12′N o o The transects varied in length from 2km to 8km depending on longitude and 74 54′-75 09′E latitude. It is approximately 24km in vegetation type and accessibility, and were distributed among four length and 6km in breadth ranging in altitude from 1700m to 4000m types viz. Mixed forest, Coniferous forest, Riverine and (Shah et al., 2009). The whole area of the park is distinguishable into 2 2 Grassland. Width of the transects varied between 50m to 100m. lower Dachigam (26km ) and upper Dachigam (115km ) by the Transects were walked in a straight manner at a fixed speed to record beginning of fir forest The lower Dachigam valley portion begins as a the birds on or near the line. Investigations were conducted for a broad and narrow bent passage. The broad open end of this passage period of one year from October 2010 to September 2011 covering faces the northwest direction and forms the main entrance to the park all the seasons i.e. spring (March-May), summer (June-August), area. It ends at its southwestern end at Nagharen and at its eastern end autumn (September-November), and winter (December-February). at Marsar meadows. Among the meadows of upper alpine Dachigam Bird Study was carried out by Visual sighting method used by Shah (1984), line transect method (Bhat and Joshi, 2011) and point count *Corresponding author: [email protected] method (Bibby, 2000). Another important aspect kept in 267 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 5, Issue, 02, pp. 266-270, February, 2013 consideration was the activity of birds. Since the peak activity in most of the birds lasts 1 or 2 hours after sunrise or before sunset, so monitoring of transects was done either in early morning or late evening hours as used by Thakur, 2010. Birds were observed with the aid 10 x 50 super Zenith field binoculars. Photographs were taken by Canon still camera (with a zoom lens of 70mm to 300mm). Field identifications were carried out with the help of various field guides (Ali, 2001, Grimmet et al., 2004). Seasonal distribution, and residential status of the birds has been worked out and different categories like, resident, local altitudinal migrant, summer visitor and winter visitor have been assigned strictly with reference to the study area on the basis of presence or absence method. Bird species were ranked into following categories (McKinnon and Phillips,1993): very common (VC) - sighted more than ten times, common (C) - sighted seven to nine times, uncommon (UC) - sighted three to six times and occasional (OC)- sighted once or twice. Figure 3. Relative abundance of bird species in Dachigam national park

Figure 1. Dachigam national park

RESULTS Table 1. Check list of birds recorded from Dachigam National Park

The present studies on the bird community structure of Dachigam Current status as

National Park, Kashmir revealed the presence of 111 species of birds Status Abundance per IUCN, RED Taxon belonging to 80 genera spread over 35 families belonging to 14 DATA Book orders. Further, it was interesting to note that the birds Order: Ciconiiformes dominated the diversity with 69 species as compared to non- Family: Ardeidae passerine (42 species). Analysis of the data on the residential status 1 Egretta garzetta R VC Least Concern Little egret revealed that out of 111 species, 66.66% were resident (74 species), 2 Ardea cinerea R VC Least Concern 18.91% were summer visitors (21 species), 5.4% were winter Gray heron visitors (6 species) and 9 % were local altitudinal migrants (10 3 Ardeola grayii R VC Least Concern species). Fig. 2. On the basis of relative abundance, 50 species were Indian pond heron very common, 41 were common, 17 were uncommon and 3 were Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae occasional (Table 1, Fig. 3). The result of this study showed that bird 4 Buteo buteo R UC Least Concern species diversity (Shannon-Weiner’s Index) was highest during Common buzzard summer (4.19) followed by spring (4.12). Autumn (3.81) and winter 5 Gyps himalayensis R C Least Concern (3.64) seasons witnessed relatively less diversity. (Table 2). Himalayan griffon 6 Milvus migrans R VC Least Concern Black kite 7 Accipiter badius R UC Least Concern Shikra 8 Circus cyaneus R UC Least Concern Hen harrier 9 Accipiter nisus R UC Least Concern Eurasian sparrow hawk 10 Aquila nipalensis R C Least Concern Steppe eagle 11 Spilornis cheela R OC Least Concern Crested Serpent eagle

Figure 2. Status of the birds recorded from Dachigam national park 268 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 5, Issue, 02, pp. 266-270, February, 2013

Order: Galliformes 40 Motacilla alba R C Least Concern Family: Phasianidae White wagtail 12 Alectoris chukar R VC Least Concern 41 Motacilla flava R C Least Concern Chukar Yellow wagtail 13 Pucrasia macrolopha R C Least Concern 42 Motacilla cinerea R C Least Concern Koklass pheasant Grey wagtail 14 Lophophorus impejanus R C Least Concern 43 Motacilla citreola R UC Least Concern Citrene wagtail 15 Coturnix coturnix R C Least Concern 44 Anthus trivialis R C Least Concern Common quail Tree pipit Order: Columbiformes Family: Family: Columbidae Campephagidae 16 Columba livia R VC Least Concern 45 Pericrocotus ethologus SV C Least Concern Blue rock pigeon Long tailed minivet 17 Streptopelia decaocto SV VC Least Concern 46 Pericrocrotus flammeus SV UC Least Concern Eurasian collared dove Scarlet minivet 18 Streptopelia orientalis R VC Least Concern Family: Pycnonotidae Oriental turtle dove 47 Pycnonotus leucogenys R VC Least Concern Order: Psittaciformes Himalayan Family: Psittacidae 48 leucocephalus LAM VC Least Concern 19 Psittacula krameri R VC Least Concern Black bulbul Rose ringed parakeet Family: Laniidae 20 Psittacula himalayana R C Least Concern 49 Lanius schach LAM VC Least Concern Slaty headed parakeet Long tailed shrike Order: Cuciliformes Family: Muscicapidae Family: Cuculidae Subfamily: Turdinae 21 Cuculus canorus SV C Least Concern 50 Turdus ruficollis WV C Least Concern Indian cuckoo Dark throated thrush 22 Cuculus poliocephalus SV C Least Concern 51 Turdus unicolor R VC Least Concern Lesser cuckoo Tickell’s thrush 23 Eudynamys scolopacea SV C Least Concern 52 Turdus viscivorus R C Least Concern Asian koel Mistle thrush Order: Strigiformes 53 Zoothera dauma LAM UC Least Concern Family: Strigidae Scaly thrush 24 Tyto alba R UC Least Concern 54 Turdus boulboul SV VC Least Concern Barn owl Grey winged black bird Order: Apodiformes 55 Enicurus maculatus LAM VC Least Concern Family:Apodidae Spotted forktail 25 Apus apus SV VC Least Concern 56 Enicurus scouleri LAM C Least Concern Common swift Little forktail Order: Coraciiformes 57 Saxicola torquata R VC Least Concern Family: Alcedinidae Common stone chat 26 Alcedo atthis R C Least Concern 58 Saxicola ferrea R VC Least Concern Common kingfisher Grey bushat Family: Halcyonidae 59 Tarsiger cyanurus R C Least Concern 27 Halcyon smyrinensis R C Least Concern Orange flanked bush White throated kingfisher robin Family: Cerylidae 60 Chaimarrornis R VC Least Concern 28 Ceryle rudis R C Least Concern leucocephalus Pied kingfisher White capped water 29 Megaceryle lugubris R UC Least Concern redstart Crested kingfisher 61 Rhyacornis fuliginosus R VC Least Concern Family: Meropidae Plumbeous water red start 30 Merops apiaster SV C Least Concern 62 Myophonus caeruleus R VC Least Concern European bee eater Blue whistling thrush Family; Upupidae 63 Garrulax variegatus LAM VC Least Concern 31 Upupa epops SV VC Least Concern Variegated laughing Common hoopoe thrush Family: Coraciidae 64 Garrulax lineatus LAM VC Least Concern 32 Coracias garrulus SV OC Near Threatened Streaked laughing thrush Europian roller Subfamily: Order: Piciformes Muscicapinae Family: Picidae 65 subrubra SV OC Vulnerable 33 Dendrocopos auriceps R C Least Concern Kashmir flycatcher Brown fronted 66 Ficedula superciliaris R C Least Concern woodpecker Ultramarine flycatcher 34 Dendrocopos R VC Least Concern 67 Eumyias thalassina SV C Least Concern himalayensis Verditer flycatcher Himalayan woodpecker 68 Luscinia pectoralis SV C Least Concern 35 Dendrocopos hyperythrus R C Least Concern White tailed ruby throat Rufous bellied Subfamily: Sylviinae woodpecker 69 Cettia fortipes R C Least Concern 36 Picus squamatus R C Least Concern Brownish flanked bush Scaly bellied woodpecker warbler 37 Picus canus R C Least Concern 70 Phylloscopus trochiloides SV VC Least Concern Grey headed woodpecker Greenish warbler 38 Dinopium benghalense R UC Least Concern 71 Phylloscopus affinis R VC Least Concern Black rumped flame back Tickell’s leaf warbler Order: Passeriformes 72 Seicercus xanthoschistos R UC Least Concern Family: Hirundinidae Grey hooded warbler 39 Hirundo rustica SV VC Least Concern 73 Phylloscopus chloronotus R C Least Concern Common swallow Lemon rumped warbler Family: Motacillidae

269 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 5, Issue, 02, pp. 266-270, February, 2013

74 Phylloscopus megnirostris R VC Least Concern 109 Anas acuta WV VC Least Concern Large billed leaf warbler Northern pintail 75 Phylloscopus reguloides R VC Least Concern Order: Charadriformes Blyth’s leaf warbler Family: Rostratulidae Family: Paridae 110 Gallinago gallinago R C Least Concern 76 Parus major R VC Least Concern Common snipe Great tit Order: Gruiformes 77 Parus melanolophus R VC Least Concern Family: Rallidae Spot winged tit 111 Fulica atra WV VC Least Concern 78 Parus monticolus LAM VC Least Concern Common coot Green backed tit Status: R=resident, SV= summer visitor, WV= winter visitor, LAM= local altitudinal Family: Certhiidae migrant. 79 Certhia himalayana LAM C Least Concern Abundance: VC-Very common: C- Common: UC-Uncommon: OC-Occasional. Bar tailed tree creeper 80 Troglodytes troglodytes LAM C Least Concern Winter wren Table 2. Diversity of birds in relation to Seasons Family: Zosteropidae 81 Zosterops palpebrosus R C Least Concern Season Diversity(Shannon-Weiner Index) Oriental white eye Spring 4.12865 Family: Emberizidae Summer 4.19808 82 Emberiza cia R VC Least Concern Autumn 3.81548 Rock bunting Winter 3.64246 Family: Fringillidae 83 Leucosticte nemoricola R UC Least Concern Plain mountain The prominent bird species include wagtails, kingfishers, bulbul, 84 Carpodacus erythrinus SV C Least Concern doves, crows, warblers, chats, thrushes, woodpeckers, flycatchers, Common rosefinch 85 Mycerobas icterioides R C Least Concern tits, sparrows and buntings. Breeding birds like Kashmir flycatcher Black and yellow gross and orange bull finch were also encountered from the study area but beak there occurrence seems accidental and very rare. Common, White 86 Emberiza fucata R VC Least Concern Breasted, Pied and Crested kingfishers were found as resident birds Chest nut eared bunting from the study area because of the presence of a good number of 87 Carduelis carduelis R C Least Concern European gold finch ponds and ditches formed by Dugwan stream flowing through the 88 aurantiaca R UC Least Concern year in the park. Rose ringed parakeet was recorded as a resident Orange bullfinch bird of the study area. This bird was mostly encountered near sheep Family: Passeridae breeding farm, VIP lodges, Draphama and Panzgama within the 89 Passer rutilans R VC Least Concern National Park. Oriental turtle dove is a summer visitor to the area. 90 Passer domesticus R VC Least Concern This bird was seen perching in pine trees and walking along on the Common sparrow ground usually preferring open inside the park. Bar tailed 91 Prunella atrogularis WV UC Least Concern tree creeper was recorded throughout the period of study. The bird Black accentor usually preferred areas covered with thick trees. Hoopoe was found 92 Prunella himalayana WV UC Least Concern to be a summer visitor to the area. It was seen mostly feeding in open Altai accentor Family: Sturnidae grassland patches in the park. Further, two species of birds were 93 Acridotheres tristis R VC Least Concern also sighted in the study area who are struggling for their existence Common myna throughout their distributional range and therefore placed under 94 Acridotheres fuscus R C Least Concern different threat categories by IUCN (Red data book, Jungle myna http://www.iucnredlist.org). Of these, Kashmir flycatcher, Ficedula 95 Sturnus vulgaris SV VC Least Concern subrubra has been placed under Vulnerable Category (VU) and Common starling Family: Dicruridae European roller, Coracias garrulus under near threatened category 96 Dicrurus leucophaeus SV VC Least Concern (NT) Table 1. Ashy drongo Family: Oriolidae 97 Oriolus oriolus SV VC Least Concern DISCUSSION Golden oriole Family: Corvidae Family wise analysis showed that family Muscicapidae (26 species) 98 Terpsiphone paradisi SV VC Least Concern dominated the avifauna followed by Accipitridae and Corvidae (8 Asian paradise flycatcher 99 Corvus macrorhynchos R VC Least Concern each); Picidae and Fringillidae (6 each); Motacillidae (5); Large billed crow Phasianidae and Passeridae (4each); Ardeidae, Columbidae, 100 Urocissa flavirostris R VC Least Concern Cuculidae, Paridae and Sturnidae (3each) whereas Strigidae, Yellow billed blue magpie Apopidae, Alceidinidae, Halcyonidae, Meropidae, Upopidae, 101 Corvus monedula R VC Least Concern Coracillidae, Hirundinidae, Lannidae, Zoosteropidae, Embrizidae, Eurasian jackdaw 102 Pyrrhocorax graculus R VC Least Concern Dicruridae, Oriolidae, Rostratulidae and Rallidae were poorly Yellow billed chough represented in the area. (Table 1). Thakur (2010) also found 103 Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax R C Least Concern Muscicapidae as the biggest family of birds with 58 species from Red billed chough , so pertinently it appears that Muscicapidae is the 104 Rhipidura albicollis R C Least Concern most diverse in its overall contribution. The high diversity during White throated fantail 105 Nucifraga caryocatactes R C Least Concern summer can be compared with earlier works of Gaston (1995) and Spotted nut cracker Mahabal (2005) who elucidated that receive a flood of Family: Cincilidae breeding birds during summer months from adjacent areas. During 106 Cinclus pallasii R VC Least Concern the present investigation, Northern pintail and were seen at Brown dipper Gandekadal transect and Sarband water reservoir. Ahmad (1999) has 107 Cinclus cinclus R UC Least Concern White throated dipper also reported these purely migratory bird species from Harwan Order: Anseriformes reservoir. Himalayan monal and koklass pheasant were encountered Family: Anatidae from higher areas of Dachigam national park. Reports of pheasants 108 Anas platyrhynchos WV VC Least Concern like monal and koklass have been made by Rodgers and Panwar Mallard duck (1988) from Dachigam. 270 International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 5, Issue, 02, pp. 266-270, February, 2013

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