Dilawar & Sharma: Son Wildlife Sanctuary 35

A new breeding location of Indian Skimmer albicollis, and notes on other in Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, , Mohammed Dilawar & Varun Sharma

Dilawar, M., & Sharma, V., 2016. A new breeding location of Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis, and notes on other birds in Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, India. Indian BIRDS 11 (2): 35–38. Mohammed E. Dilawar, Nature Forever Society, Row House No. 17, Gayatri Nagar, Nashik–Pune Road, Nashik 422011, Nashik District, , India. E-mail: [email protected]. Varun Sharma, Nature Forever Society, Row House No. 17, Gayatri Nagar, Nashik–Pune Road, Nashik 422011, Nashik District, Maharashtra, India. Manuscript received on 18 May 2015.

Abstract Here we report of a new breeding population of Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis, in the Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary. Breeding of Indian Skimmers indicates that the sanctuary could be a potential Important Area (IBA), and provides opportunities for locating other breeding sites of the birds, on Son River, and its tributaries—Banas, and Gopad. We also present notes on some common, and rare birds found in the sanctuary, and a bird list of 111 species, compiled from earlier published reports and our own opportunistic observations, adding 24 species to the sanctuary’s checklist. We feel that detailed scientific bird surveys are needed in the Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary to comprehensively document its avifaunal diversity.

Introduction Study area Son Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary (hereafter Son) is situated in Son is a shallow, meandering sand-bed river with an extensive Sidhi District of Madhya Pradesh. It begins from Bansagar Dam floodplain, comprising midstream sandbars. The river flows (24.18°N, 81.28°E), and ends at Piparjhar village (24.60°N, between cliff-likeCopy banks characterized by terraced accumulations 82.77°E), bordering Mirzapur District, Uttar Pradesh (Fig. 1). The of early Middle- to Late Pleistocene sediments (Gatti 2010). The sanctuary extends southward to the Eastern Vindhya Range, or river flows in shallow streams that get divided into two types of the Kaimur Range of eastern Madhya Pradesh. It is 209 km long, riverbeds: one comprising rocky beds with multiple pools, present and has 200 m wide riverbanks on either sides of the Son River at four locations along the entire stretch of the sanctuary, two, (a major tributary of River Ganges) (Rao 1992). comprising sandy islands, and riverbanks. The vegetation around In the past two decades the avifauna of the sanctuary has the Son River is mainly composed of two forest types: tropical moist been studied, either in detail (Sharma & Sharma 1997; Singh et deciduous forests, and tropical dry deciduous forests (Champion & al., 2015), or through rapid assessments (Sharma et al., 1999; Seth 1968). The Son was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1981 Sharma et al., 2011; Nair & Katdare 2013). In the present study, by the government of Madhya Pradesh to protect, and preserve we try to review the existing state of knowledge on the avifauna the faunal diversity of the river, specifically the critically endangered of the area, and augment it with our own observations. gharial Gavialis gangeticus, and the vulnerable marsh crocodile Crocodylus palustris (Singh et al., 2015).

Methodology Over a period of one year, three visits (13 April 2011, 28 January, and 15 April 2012, respectively) were made to Son. The visits were predominantly made to the gharial-spotting site of Jogdeha Ghat, passing through Bansagar Dam Shikargang, to an unnamed spot (24.40°N, 81.68°E). Birds were recorded randomly. Our observations revealed that Jogdeha Ghat sustains a larger number of wetland birds than any other sites visited along the Son River.

Results Based on our recent observations, and from previously published Authorworks, we drew up a bird list of 111 species, of which 24 were additions from our recent visits (Appendix). Under The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (http://www.iucnredlist.org/), 94 of these species were categorised as, of Least Concern, seven as Fig. 1. The Son Wildlife Sanctuary Near Threatened, and ten as Threatened. 36

Photo: Varun Sharma Knee, andRiverLapwing. species likeBlack-neckedStork,Black-headedIbis,GreatThick recording the Common Pochard at Son, and other riverine bird unrecorded breeding site of Indian Skimmer,of a hitherto besides and fiveon 15 April 2012 atJogdehaGhat. Six birds were recorded on mid-river rocky beds on 28 January, Great Thick KneeEsacusrecurvirostris NT 2012 onrockyislandsmid-riveratJogdehaGhat. the river on 28 January 2012. Six birds were recorded on 15 April About 11 birdswererecorded baskingonthesouthernbankof Black-headed IbisThreskiornismelanocephalus NT waded alongthesouthernsandybank. Jogdeha on15 April2012 at1335 hrs,whiletheybasked,and foraged alongtheriverbank,andfourjuvenileswerespotted at unnamed locationon28 January2012, at0920 hrs,whileit Recorded intwodifferentseasons,anadultwasspottedat Black-necked StorkEphippiorhynchus by IUCN. Son, andin2015 thisspecieshasbeenup-listedtoVulnerable Terideh, on28 Januaryat1505 hrs.This isafirstrecordfrom A flockof 47 birdswas recordedmid-river atShikargang, near Common Pochard Aythya ferina VU 47. the sanctuaryinrecentyears. (Table breedingpopulationin 1)andhencethisprovesavirtual sanctuary, allofthemhaverecordeditduringthebreedingseason Though priorstudiesdidnotindicate skimmersbreedinginthe Sharma unrecorded earlier(Sharma&Sharma1997; Sharmaetal.1999; 2012 island nearthesouthernbankofriver, atJogdeha,on15 April individualswererecordednestingonasmallsand- Fourteen Indian SkimmerRynchopsalbicollisVU Table 1.SitelocationsrepresentingR.albicolispopulationstudiedbyearlierworkers .N.Sitelocation S. No. Indian B Indian .Jogdeha Jogdeha 3. 2. 1. .KherainiGhat Kherpur/BichheriGhat 6. Kultideha 5. 4. Indian Skimmers Rynchops Indian albicollis Skimmers A significantoutcomeofourobservationswasthediscovery [47]. This isanewbreedingcolony, andfallswithinSon, eie erBaesnGa Nair&Katdare (2013) 2 Terideh nearBhaversenGhat et al.2011; Nair&Katdare2013; Singhetal.2015). irds

Author V ol . 11 N o . 2 at Jogdeha Ghat. (P ubl ubrrcre Reference Number recorded . 10 F 82 Nair&Katdare(2013) 18-21 ≈80 14 17 ebruary

2016 asiaticus NT Singh etal(2015) Nair &Katdare(2013) Srivastava (2014) ) 6,700 are mature birds (BirdLife International 2015a), the Son population is6,000–10,000 individuals,ofwhich, roughly4,000- (BirdLife International2001). season of thespecies is predominantly from March to May rainfall).The breeding levels (inturndependentupon regional breeding season,whichishighly dependentonriverinewater River; aclearneedformoreintensive surveysduringthebird’s identifying more breeding sites of Indian Skimmers on theSon and Sonriversin2014 (Srivastava2014), thereisapossibilityof and KherainiGhat(Table 1). Terideh Ghat,Jogdeha Kherpur/Bicchheri Ghat, Kultideh, have restrictedmostoftheiractivitiestogharialbreedingsites at stretch ofthesanctuary(>100 km).Earlierstudiesseem to river islands,idealfornestingofthespecies,alongwhole recorded. wherehave Indian Gharial breedingsites been potential Skimmers Fig. 2. representing Sites low (BirdLifeInternational2001). could becritical,breedingcanonlyoccurwhenwaterlevelsare pattern ofmovementsthespecies.Althoughfloodingregimes from the interiors. However, we still do not know much about the sites thatareonlyatconfluencepointsoftributaries,andnot from of thisbirdduringitsbreedingseasonhasbeenreported 2013; Singhetal.2015), fromJogdehaGhat,theexistence apart 1997; Sharmaetal.1999; Sharmaetal.2011; Nair&Katdare and shallow channels. In theearlier studies (Sharma & Sharma by opening-uplargesandybanks provides nestingopportunities Bridge. The confluenceoftheBanas,andGopadriversalso of sanctuary, mainlyatShikargang,Kuldeha Bridge,andJogdeha large anddeeppoolssparsevegetationatthebeginning inSon,withtheexception offourrockybeds,with its length The riverhasshallowchannels andsandyislandsthroughout and Gopadrivers,providesanidealhabitatforthisbird(Fig.2). 2001). ofSonRiver, The geography anditstributaries,theBanas, water depthisonlythreetofourcentimeters(BirdLifeInternational the edgesofriverchannels,andlagoons—sometimeswhere It breedsonsandyspits,orriverislands.frequentlyfeedsnear sizes, andisprincipallyadaptedtofeedingwhileflyingoverrivers. The IndianSkimmeroccurson sandyrivers,andlakesofvarious A potentialbreedingsiteforIndianSkimmers Discussions 2012. later recordedfromJogdehaGhatat1335 hrson28 January location (24.41°N, 81.69°E) at0900hrs,andtwobirdswere Two birds were spotted on rocky river banks at an unnamed River LapwingVanellus duvauceliiNT Considering that thecurrentestimateofIndian Skimmer With arecordofmorethan80birdsatconfluenceGopad, We observedthattheSonRiverofferssandybanks,andmid- Copy 37

Photo: Mohammed Dilawar most of the Thus,

Working Meeting of the IUCN Working nd

Son Gharial Wildlife Gharial Son Sanctuary : harma & S Copy ilawar D great avifaunal diversity along the river, and great diversity along the river, avifaunal 47 (6): 93 (2007). (6): bicolor). Newsletter for Birdwatchers 47 birds of : the BirdLife International Red Data Book. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International. Pp. 1493–1507. on 13/03/2015. http://www.birdlife.org March 2015]. datazone/info/ibacritglob. [Accessed on 18 org/datazone/country/india. [Accessed on 22 March 2015.] Govt. of India, New . the YTT, super- seasonality and post-eruptive river response. In: The Toba . Centre February 2010 eruption: a critical moment in human evolution? 20–21 for Archaeology, Art and Culture: University of Oxford. in the Betwa, Ken and Son Rivers, India. In: 22 Proceedings: World Proceedings: World SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, 20–23 May 2013. Crocodile Conference. 53–65. Meeting of the Crocodile Working 32–45. In: Crocodiles—Proceedings of the 11th Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN—The World Conservation 2. Union, Gland, Switzerland. Volume Gharial Sanctuary Madhya Pradesh. ENVIS in Protected Areas Wildlife and 2 (1): 87–90. 952–957. (10): Madhya Pradesh. The Indian Forester 123 and habitat potentiality for sustenance of Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) in Sone International Journal of BiodiversityGharial Sanctuary. and Conservation. 3 (1): 19–23. Discarded non-biodegradable waste near the most important Gharial breeding site at conservation policies for, and research at Son are primarily and research at Son are primarily for, conservation policies not forget that Son centered on the gharial. But one should also supports bird species occurrence of such significant adjoining areas. The the importancethroughout the area highlights of landscape level Son River. the along their habitats and avifauna of conservation reduction a is there if achievable, be can area an of Conservation in anthropological pressures. Acknowledgements would like to thank Oan Dilawar, and Duriya Dilawar for their generous support We S. Subramanya is thanked for without which the study would not have been possible. useful suggestions while the manuscript was under preparation. References Bharos, A. M. K., 2008. Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna Sighting records of Fulvous Species factsheet: Rynchops albicollis. In: Threatened BirdLife International. 2001. Species factsheet: Rynchops albicollis. Downloaded from BirdLife International. 2015a. Global IBA URL: Criteria. Website http://www.birdlife.org/ BirdLife International. 2015b. CountryWebsite profile: India. URL: http://www.birdlife. BirdLife International. 2015c. A revised survey of the forest types of India . Champion, H. G., & Seth, S. K., 1968. Preliminary observations on the stratigraphy of the Son river sediments: Gatti, E., 2010. Dry-season assessment of (Gavialis gangeticus) S., 2013. & Katdare, Nair, T., 48. Ghat.Jogdeha Conservation to protect the gharial. Son was established Rao, R. J., 1992. of the crocodiles in the Madhya Pradesh, India. Pp Rao, R. J., 1992. Status of Gharial in Ken and Sone K., & Basu, D., 1999. Sharma R. K., Choudhary, P. faunal survey Wetland of Sone Gharial Sanctuary in Sharma, R. K., & Sharma, S., 1997. A survey of habitat inventorization Sharma, R. K., Singh, H., & Dasgupta, N., 2011.

along the river, has resulted in littering of has along the river, Author Author melas . (2015) indicate . (2015) and Singh et al Sharma & Sharma (1997), in the district have resulted in Industrial developments or the local communities, are completely inhabitants, The India has always been the most importantalways been the most India has country for the Son supportsOur study reveals that ten species under the the habitat with cutlery, and disposable polystyrene and plastic the habitat with cutlery, materials. that the Son River has become shallower due to the constructionthat the Son River has become shallower of the Bansagar Dam, which has resulted in drastic water flow which in turn has with low flow conditions in the river, instability, the enhanced siltation, and reduced water depths. During summer, water level plummets; while during the monsoon, due to sudden discharge, the river is in spate, causing potential flood situations. mining sand thus, and sand, for river the on dependency higher Also, the from riverbanks has increased (Singh et al. 2015). denotification of large sections of the river areas of the sanctuary could result in a detrimental for sand mining (Singh et al. 2015) loss of critical habitat for Indian Skimmers in the sanctuary in future. dependent on the river for their livelihood, which urges a and turtlesfishes upon the dependency is this food. Often as coupled with certain unsustainable practices of fishing, such as Dumping the use of explosives, and netting (Sharma et al. 2011). of non-biodegradable waste, and garbage [48], by the local communities, who celebrate most of their religious ceremonies, festivals, and Alarming threats The under protected legally are species bird the of most Though their habitats are under (Protection) Act, 1972, Indian Wildlife to the major threats One of the pressures. anthropogenic heavy and habitat of birds along the river is anthropogenic ecology, in surrounding disturbance. Increase in human populations expansion and increase the in resulted has towns and villages, of new settlements, modern agricultural practices with the use cultivation temporary for encroachment illegal pesticides, toxic of livestock grazingalong river banks, and river beds, and increased pressures These Singh et al. 2015). (Sharma & Sharma 1997; degradationthe on impacts potential have could and nesting of also found We River. basking habitats of skimmers along the Son there is a great deal of that due to habitations along the river, could pose a threat to movement of cattle, and stray dogs, which the eggs, and nestlings of Indian Skimmers. species. It has now become crucial in any strategyspecies. It has now become to preserve it IBAs integrated are part of a wider, 2015c). (BirdLife International that embrace sites, species, and habitat approach to conservation areas protected existing reinforce to used and are protection, 2015b). networks (BirdLife International we strongly Besides this, IUCN Red List categories (IUCN 2015.3). feel that Son holds great for the commoner avifauna as potential Son, to assess the avifaunal diversity of it is difficult well. However, overstretches that studies in a sanctuary earlier on based merely originating Son River has two big tributaries km. The from thick 209 flowing patterns, have similar geography, forests, and they also undulating rocky cliffs,and run through the forested areas, scrubs, contribute could very well farmlands, and human habitation. This needs to be but it to a great in avifauna in the sanctuary, diversity validated by further detailed studies and scientific surveys in future. population of 80 individuals is >1% of the global population level population global the of >1% is individuals 80 of population under the qualifying it to be listed 2015), International (Wetlands Global IBA International 2015b). criteria (BirdLife 38 Indian Birds Vol. 11 No. 2 (Publ. 10 February 2016)

Singh, H., Dasgupta, N., & Sharma, R. K., 2015. Status of birds in Son Gharial Sanctuary, 244387411&type. [Accessed on 10 March 2015.] Madhya Pradesh, India. Science & Technology International Research Journal. 1 Srivastava, R. K., 2014b. Indian Skimmers at Rajghat in Son Gharial Sanctuary. Website (2): 50–56. URL: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=790658674296836&set=a.1011 Srivastava, R. K., 2013. Indian Skimmers at Rajghat in Son Gharial Sanctuary. Website 23753250335.2369.100000581332754&type. [Accessed on 10 March 2015.] URL: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=661354687227236&set=a.1543 IUCN. 2015. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015-3. Website URL: 20651263978.41863.100000581332754&type. [Accessed on 10 March, 2015.] www.iucnredlist.org. [Accessed on 03 November 2015.] Srivastava, R. K., 2014a. Indian Skimmers – Rynchops albicollis Swainson. Website URL: Wetlands International. 2015. Waterbird population estimates. Website URL: wpe. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=815487531813950&set=gm.10151980 wetlands.org. [Accessed 22 Nov 2015.].

Appendix. Compiled avifauna of Son Wildlife Sanctuary Appendix. Compiled avifauna of Son Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name(s) Scientific Name Conservation Observations Common Name(s) Scientific Name Conservation Observations Status recorded Status recorded (BLI 2015) (BLI 2015) Fulvous Whistling-duck Dendrocygna bicolor LC A, B Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus LC A Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica LC E, F Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus EN A, E Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus LC A, F Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus CR A Greylag Goose Anser anser LC F White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis CR A Common Merganser Mergus merganser LC A, E Indian Vulture Gyps indicus CR F Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea LC A, E, F Pallas’s -eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus VU A Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina LC F Black Kite Milvus migrans LC F Common Pochard Aythya ferina VU F White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa LC F Gadwall Mareca strepera LC A Spotted Owlet Athene brama LC A, F Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha LC A, E, F Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris LC E, F Northern Pintail Anas acuta LC A Common Hoopoe Upupa epops LC A, F Common Teal Anas crecca LC A Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus LC A, E Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos LC A, E, F Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis LC A, F Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelianus LC F Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus LC A Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus LC A Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis LC A, F Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus LC F Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis LC A, F Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis LC F Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis LC A, F Rock Pigeon Columba livia LC A White-throated Halcyon smyrnensis LC A, E, F Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto LC A Kingfisher Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica LC A Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus LC F Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis LC F Plum-headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala LC F Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis LC A, F Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri LC F Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus LC F Black Drongo CopyDicrurus macrocercus LC A, F Common Coot Fulica atra LC A, E, F Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach LC A Sarus Crane Antigone antigone VU A Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor LC A Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala NT A Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda LC A Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans LC A, E House Crow Corvus splendens LC F Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus VU A, E Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus LC A, F Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus NT A, E, F House Sparrow Passer domesticus LC A Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii LC A, E, F Yellow-throated Sparrow Gymnoris xanthocollis LC F Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis LC A, F Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava LC A Grey Heron Ardea cinerea LC A, E, F Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea LC A Purple Heron Ardea purpurea LC E, F White Wagtail Motacilla alba LC F Great Egret Ardea alba LC A Crested Bunting Melophus lathami LC A Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia LC E, F Rufous-tailed Lark Ammomanes phoenicura LC A Little Egret Egretta garzetta LC A, F Indian Bush Lark Mirafra erythroptera LC A Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus NT A, E, F Grey-breasted Prinia hodgsonii LC F Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia LC A, E, F Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis LC F Indian Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa LC A, E, F Streak-throated Swallow Petrochelidon fluvicola LC F Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger LC A, E, F Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica LC A Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo LC A, E Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii LC A Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis LC A, F Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica LC A Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster NT A Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer LC A, E, F Great Thick Knee Esacus recurvirostris NT A, E, F Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense LC F Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus LC A, F Common Babbler Argya caudata LC A, F Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius LC A Jungle Babbler Turdoides striata LC F Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus LC A Asian Pied Starling Gracupica contra LC A River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii NT A, F Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum LC A Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus LC A Common Myna Acridotheres tristis LC A, F Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus LC A, F Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus LC A, F Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus LC E, F Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicatus LC A Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos LC A Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis LC A Common Redshank Tringa totanus LC A Brown Rock Chat Oenanthe fusca LC F Small Pratincole Glareola lactea LC A Observations recorded - A: Sharma & Sharma 1997; B: Bharos 2008; C: Nair & Katdare Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis VU A, C, D, E, F 2013, D: Srivastava 2013, 2014a,b; E: Singh et al. 2015; F: Our observations. Brown-headedAuthor Gull Chroicocephalus brun- LC E nicephalus CR – Critically Endangered; EN – Endangered; LC – Least Concern; NT – Near Threat- River Tern Sterna aurantia NT A, E ened; VU – Vulnerable Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda EN A, E Osprey Pandion haliaetus LC F