Diversity and Status of Avifauna in Man-Made Sacred Ponds of Kurukshetra, India

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Journal of Threatened Taxa Building evidence for conservaton globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Communication Diversity and status of avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra, India

Parmesh Kumar & Archna Sharma

26 August 2018 | Vol. 10 | No. 9 | Pages: 12173–12193 10.11609/jot.3729.10.9.12173-12193

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Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193

Diversity and status of avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra, India Communication

Parmesh Kumar 1 & Archna Sharma 2 ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 1,2 Department of Zoology, University College, Kurukshetra University, Thanesar, Kurukshetra, Haryana 136119, India 1 [email protected] (corresponding author), 2 [email protected] OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: Located in the Trans-Gangetc Plains of India, Kurukshetra is doted with a number of man-made, perennial, sacred ponds of great historical and religious importance. These wetlands also serve as important wintering and stopover sites for birds coming from the Palearctc region. Surveys were conducted from April 2014 to March 2015 to record the diversity and status of avifauna in four sacred ponds of Kurukshetra. Point counts and direct observatons were used to record the bird species. A total of 126 bird species of 98 genera belonging to 45 families and 16 orders were identfed, of which 41 were winter migrants, six were summer migrants, and 79 were residents. Anatdae (n=15) was the most common family, followed by Ardeidae (n=8), and Motacillidae and Muscicapidae (n=7 each). Based on the guilds, 37 species were carnivorous, 36 omnivorous, 29 insectvorous, six herbivorous, six frugivorous, fve granivorous, four insectvorous/nectarivorous, and three piscivorous. Of the species recorded, fve species are classifed as Near Threatened and one species as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; nine species are listed in Appendix II of Conventon on Internatonal Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and six species are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protecton) Act, 1972. We hope that this study will provide a baseline for future research on monitoring the populaton and seasonal changes in the bird assemblage of sacred ponds.

Keywords: Avifauna, diversity, India, Kurukshetra, sacred ponds, status.

DOI: htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.3729.10.9.12173-12193 | ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AF8A19E1-DEFD-48B7-8221-7B7373C4F680

Editor: Hem S. Baral, Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga, Australia. Date of publicaton: 26 August 2018 (online & print)

Manuscript details: Ms # 3729 | Received 12 August 2017 | Final received 07 August 2018 | Finally accepted 10 August 2018

Citaton: Kumar, P. & A. Sharma (2018). Diversity and status of avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 10(9): 12173–12193; htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.3729.10.9.12173-12193

Copyright: © Kumar & Sharma 2018. Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this artcle in any medium, reproducton and distributon by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publicaton.

Funding: None.

Competng interests: The authors declare no competng interests.

Author Details: Dr. Parmesh Kumar is an Associate Professor in Zoology, University College, Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra. His feld of research includes wildlife ecology and animal behaviour. Ms. Archna Sharma is a research scholar and pursuing her PhD from Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra.

Author Contributon: PK and AS conceived and designed the study. AS collected the feld data and prepared rough draf of the manuscript. PK guided the research, analyzed the data and wrote the fnal draf of the manuscript.

Acknowledgements: We thank the Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, for providing necessary research facilites. We are grateful to B.L. Saini for identfcaton of fora and Omvir Singh for preparing the map of the study area.

12173 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma

INTRODUCTION of biodiversity, and ofen the frst step to evolve an appropriate long-term conservaton strategy for birds Wetlands are the most productve biomes in the and their habitats (Kumar et al. 2005; Badola & Aitken world (Kumar et al. 2005) and provide the transitonal 2010). link between aquatc and terrestrial habitats (Torell et Located in the Trans-Gangetc Plains of India, the al. 2001; Zedler & Kercher 2005). They have specifc landscape of Kurukshetra is doted with a number of ecological characteristcs, functons, and values, perennial, man-made, sacred wetlands of great historical occupying about 6% of the earth’s surface (Maltby & and religious importance. A large number of pilgrims Turner 1983; Green 1996; Getzner 2002) and providing and tourists visit these sacred tanks to take a holy dip habitat to a wide array of fora and fauna (Buckton 2007). and perform religious ceremonies. These wetlands are Wetlands are, thus, ofen considered as treasuries of also potentally important for birds, not only because biodiversity within a region or a landscape (Gopal & Sah they provide foraging, roostng, and breeding habitats 1993; Surana et al. 2007). Birds consttute an important for resident species, but also for their role as stopover component of the biotc community of wetland sites or wintering areas for several migrants of the ecosystems as they occupy several trophic levels in Palearctc region (Kumar et al. 2016). The avifauna the food web of wetlands and form the terminal links of these sacred wetlands, however, remains poorly in many aquatc food chains (Custer & Osborn 1977). known. Lack of adequate informaton on bird species Because of their high mobility, birds respond quickly inhabitng wetlands greatly limits the development to changes in their habitats (Morrison 1986); they and establishment of efectve conservaton strategies. are, thus, valuable indicators of the ecological health, The present study was hence undertaken to make an productvity, trophic structure, human disturbance, and inventory of bird species that inhabit sacred ponds of contaminaton of wetland ecosystems (Custer & Osborn Kurukshetra in the Trans-Gangetc Plains of India along 1977; Subramanya 1996). with their conservaton and residental status. India, with its varied topography and climatc regimes, supports diverse and unique wetland habitats that occupy an estmated area of 15.26 million hectares MATERIALS AND METHODS (Panigrahy et al. 2012). Apart from natural wetlands, which support 20% of the known biodiversity of India Study area (Kumar et al. 2005), there are a large number of man- The present study was carried out in four religious made wetlands that also support rich fora and fauna. It ponds: namely, Brahma Sarovar, Jyot Sarovar, Baan is estmated that there are 5,55,557 small-sized wetlands Ganga, and Sannihit Sarovar located in and around (<2.25 ha) in the form of village tanks/ponds in India Kurukshetra (29.866–30.200 0N & 76.416–77.066 0E), (Panigrahy et al. 2012). These wetlands provide suitable Haryana, in the Trans-Gangetc Plains of India (Fig. habitats and food resources for a wide variety of birds 1, Table 1). These ponds are surrounded by human (Stewart 2007; Ali et al. 2013). Of the 1,263 bird species habitatons and agricultural felds. The surrounding reported from India (Praveen et al. 2016), 310 species agriculture felds, with wheat and paddy as main crops, are known to be dependent on wetlands (Kumar et al. provide extra foraging space and food for certain 2005). Wetlands in India, as elsewhere, however, are wetland bird species. The study area, experiencing under tremendous anthropogenic pressures including sub-tropical climate, has three seasons: rainy (July– encroachment of wetland habitat, unsustainable September), cool-and-dry (October–February), and the harvestng of resources, industrial polluton, poisoning, hot-and-dry (March–June); temperature ranges from agricultural runof, eutrophicaton, siltaton, and invasion 3–45 0C and annual rainfall averages to 582mm. The of alien species (Prasad et al. 2002). These impacts can wetlands support many types of macrophytes that may lead to populaton declines and changes in community be grouped into marginal, submerged, foatng, and structure of birds (Kler 2002; Verma et al. 2004; Reginald emergent categories, of which Eichhornia crassipes (a et al. 2007). deadly invasive) is the dominant free-foatng, Hydrilla Biodiversity inventories or checklists serve as vertcillata the dominant submerged, and Cynodon repositories of baseline informaton on species dactylon the dominant marginal species in the wetlands. occurrences, biogeography, and their conservaton Various tree species like Jamun Syzygium cumini, Mango status (Chandra & Gajbe 2005). They are essental Mangifera indica, Alstonia sp., Acacia Acacia nilotca tools for developing our knowledge and understanding & Acacia arabica, Neem Azadirachta indica, Jujube

12174 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma

Figure 1. Locaton of selected study sites

Table 1. Summary of general characteristcs of selected sacred ponds

Elevaton Sacred Pond Coordinates General Features (m) Rich, healthy, and robust perennial pond situated in the heart of Kurukshetra city; one of largest man- made bathing tanks in Asia; divided into two sectons,namely, Eastern and Western Brahma Sarovar. The size of Eastern and Western Brahma Sarovar is 548.64× 457.20×4.57 m and 457.20×457.20×4.57 m, respectvely; edged with 6.09m wide platorms, stairs, and a 12.19m wide parikrama. Bathing 29.9500N platorms with protectve railings have been constructed along the periphery of the tank. Exclusive 1. Brahma Sarovar & 245 separate and covered bathing areas have been constructed for use of women pilgrims. The water 76.8160E in the tank is replenished using water from Bhakra irrigaton canal. A large number of pilgrims and tourists take holy dips in the tank on auspicious days of the new moon and solar eclipse. To add scenic beauty, the sarovar is decorated on the periphery with lush green lawns, foral beds, and huge trees with thick and dense canopy, which serve as roostng and nestng sites for birds. Perennial, a series of three closely located ponds at the outskirts of Jyotsar village; one is used by the tourists and local people for holy dip. Size of Jyot Sarovar is 393.7x196.8 x 3.7m. The second is used 29.9500N for lotus cultvaton, is mainly fed by direct precipitaton and run-of from surroundings, is recharged 2. Jyot Sarovar & 253 during summer through a feeder canal,and is surrounded by large marshy swamp fed by local village 76.7660E sewage; third is used for catle drinking and bathing. Both the second and third ponds are heavily infested with water hyacinth. Perennial, man-made, religious pond located at the outskirts of Dayalpur Village. Size of of Baan 29.9330N Ganga is 258.20x127.6x 3.7m. It is mainly fed by direct precipitaton and run-of from surroundings, 3. Baan Ganga & 254 and is recharged during summer through feld channels. The tank is fanked by rural human 76.8000E habituatons and agricultural felds. In the vicinity of the sacred pond, there is a rural pond used for catle drinking and bathing, washing of vehicles, and other domestc purposes. 29.9500N Perennial, man-made sacred pond in the heart of Kurukshetra city about 1km from Brahma Sarovar, 4. Sannihit Sarovar & 244 457.20x137.16 m in size, surrounded by urban human habitaton; used by pilgrims for bathing and 76.8330E ‘pinddaan’.

Zizyphus jujube, Wild Senna Cassia tora, Banyan Tree roostng and nestng sites for various bird species. Ficus benghalensis, Bodhi Tree or Peepal Ficus religiosa, The ponds are also surrounded by Mesquite Prosopis and the Indian Rosewood Dalbergia sissoo at the banks julifora, a deadly invasive shrub, and the non-natve or in the surroundings of the ponds provide suitable Eucalyptus sp.

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followed IWPA (1972), CITES (2012), and IUCN (2017). Data collecton The relatve abundance (RA) of families was calculated Bird surveys were conducted at two-week intervals in using the following formula as per Torre-Cuadros et al. all the ponds from April 2014 to March 2015, following (2007): the point count method (Bibby et al. 2000). Six to 10 Number of species in a family vantage points, at least 250m apart, were selected at RA = ------x 100 the perimeter of each pond, and each point locaton Total number of species was surveyed 24 tmes during the entre study period. The observer waited for a few minutes afer arrival at each staton before beginning to count. This allowed RESULTS AND DISCUSSION the birds to setle down following the observer’s arrival and 10–20 minutes were spent at each point surveying A total of 126 species of birds belonging to 98 the birds. Birds were counted directly, aided by 7x35 genera, distributed among 45 families and 16 orders Nikon binoculars, during hours of peak actvity 0600– were recorded from four sacred ponds of Kurukshetra 1000 hr and 1600–1800 hr. In additon to these regular during the study period (Table 2, Images 1–102). Of surveys, opportunistc records were also collected these, 62 species were wetland-associated and the rest during other tme periods of the day by walking at a slow were terrestrial. Of all species recorded, 31 (24.60%) pace along the bank of selected ponds and recording were observed from all the four sacred wetlands, and the species observed. Field guides (Grimmet et al. 95 (75.39%) were recorded from some specifc wetlands 1999; Kazmierczak & Perlo 2000) were used for feld alone (Table 2). Passeriformes had the highest diversity identfcaton. Taxonomy and nomenclature follow with 46 species and 17 families (Fig. 2). The proporton Praveen et al. (2016). For residental status, birds were of species richness of birds by family varied from 0.79– categorised as resident, winter visitor, and summer 11.90%. Anatdae, the richest family represented by 15 visitor on the basis of their presence in the study area species, accounted for 11.90% of the total bird species (Ali & Ripley 1987). Feeding guilds were classifed on in the study area (Table 3). Apodidae, Burhinidae, the basis of direct observatons and available literature Rostratulidae, Strigidae, Bucerotdae, Upupidae, Picidae, (Ali & Ripley 1987; Grimmet et al. 1999). For natonal Meropidae, Coraciidae, Campephagidae, Dicruridae, and global conservaton status of recorded avifauna, we Nectariniidae, Ploceidae, Passeridae, Pycnonotdae,

Figure 2. Compositon of avian community in sacred ponds of Kurukshetra, India

12176 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma

Zosteropidae, and Timaliidae were poorly represented families with a single species in each. Similarly, Gupta & Kumar(2009) recorded 110 bird species belonging to 41 families and 14 orders from diferent habitats of Kurukshetra. For comparison, Alfred et al. (2001) reported 216 wetland bird species from various wetland habitats in the much more expansive Sub-Himalayan Terai and Indo-Gangetc Plains of northern India. Ducks and geese (Anatdae) are the most copious and remarkable winter migrants to the Indian-subcontnent, and consttute about 85% of the migrant bird populatons Figure 3. Guild-based classifcaton of avian species recorded in (Alfred et al. 2001). These results are in confrmaton sacred ponds of Kurukshetra, India with fndings of earlier workers who have reported Anatdae to be the most dominant family among bird communites in diferent wetland habitats of Haryana in resources for birds, allowing the persistence of a greater northern India (Kumar & Gupta 2009, 2013; Tak et al. number of species and guilds than in less complex 2010; Kumar et al. 2016). habitats (MacArthur & MacArthur 1961; Tews et al. Of the 126 species identfed, 41 were winter 2004; Codesido et al. 2013). In the present study, Jyot migrants, six were summer migrants, and 79 were Sarovar wetland, along with the adjacent rural pond, residents. The occurrence of a considerable number of marshy area, and irrigated crop felds, provided a mosaic winter migratory species can be atributed partly to the of habitats leading to multple and variety of alternatve study area being on the Central Asian Flyway and serving food sources for the birds, and thus registered highest as a wintering and stopover site for migratory birds species richness (Aynalem & Bekele 2008). Brahma that breed in the Palearctc region (Kumar et al. 2016). Sarovar and Sannihit Sarovar, being located in urban These migratory birds form a major component of the areas of the Kurukshetra City, are more exposed to aquatc bird populatons in various wetland habitats of local people and tourists. As a result, bird actvites like northern India (Alfred et al. 2001; Manral et al. 2013; feeding, nestng, hiding, and breeding are afected at Kumar et al. 2016). We observed that the majority of these sites. the winter migrants stayed in the sacred wetlands from The quality and quantty of food available is the major November to February. The summer visitors, including factor that determines the spato-temporal distributon Coton Teal Netapus coromandelianus, Lesser Whistling and relatve abundance of birds in a given habitat (Wiens Duck Dendrocygna javanica, Comb Duck Sarkidiornis 1989; Ma et al. 2010; Jha 2013). The diferent species melanotos, Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus, Pheasant- of birds occupying a partcular feeding guild and space tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus, and Greater have evolved specialized foraging strategies to explore Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis were spoted and obtain food resources efciently and thereby to during summer season (April–August) in the study area. reduce competton (Nudds & Bowlby 1984). As far Litle Cormorant Microcarbo niger and Black-winged as foraging habits of the bird community in the study Stlt Himantopus himantopus, being common resident area are concerned, eight major feeding guilds were species, were recorded in and around the wetlands identfed (Fig. 3). This representaton of major trophic throughout the year, but their populatons augmented guilds in the area indicated that the area holds a wide due to the infux of migrant birds during the winter spectrum of food resources for birds. The carnivore guild season. was the most abundant one with 37 species followed by Wetland characteristcs like size, water depth, quality omnivore (36), insectvore (29), herbivore (six), frugivore of water, trophic structure, and presence of suitable (six), granivore (fve), insectvore/nectarivore (four), and roostng and nursery sites infuence the abundance piscivore (three). Due to their specialized diet and low and diversity of birds (Wiens 1989; Mukherjee et al. availability of preferable food resources, the nectarivores 2002; Ma et al. 2010). During the study period, species and piscivores are generally less represented (Wiens richness was recorded to be the highest at Jyot Sarovar 1989). The diversity of avifauna in the study area may be (n=107), followed by Brahma Sarovar (n=88), Baan due to the presence of a wide spectrum of food niches, Ganga (n=53), and Sannihit Sarovar (n=34). Generally, which reduced food competton among diferent species habitats with a complex architecture generate greater (Jose & Zacharias 2003). About half of the recorded bird

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 12177 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma species were those associated with wetland habitats, widely but thinly distributed in India, with the northern such as ducks, herons, egrets, cormorants, jacanas, and northwestern regions forming its main strongholds grebes, kingfshers, and storks, which were observed to (Rahmani 1989). feed on aquatc organisms (worms, insects, snails, fsh, Black-headed Ibis - Near Threatened: A resident and amphibians) at various water depths available in the wader species (Kumar et al. 2016) was recorded in wetlands and adjoining paddy felds and marshy area. small loose groups (1–4 individuals) only at Jyot Sarovar Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus and throughout the study period. It was ofen observed Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus foraging with other waders at the margins of the pond, were spoted at Jyot Sarovar alone, the only pond and mudfats and paddy felds adjoining the sacred with lotuses. The vegetaton cover of lotuses provides wetland. suitable feeding, nestng, and breeding habitat for River Tern - Near Threatened: A common resident herons, moorhens, and jacanas. Purple Swamphen species in the study area (Kumar et al. 2016) was Porphyrio porphyrio, a common resident species, was recorded as 1–7 scatered individuals at all the four observed only in weedy marsh areas fanking the sacred sacred ponds throughout the study period. pond of Jyot Sarovar, where there were frequent human Alexandrine Parakeet - Near Threatened: A resident actvites; this bird species may be a bio-indicator of species in the study area was recorded in small groups enhanced weed infestaton and increased vegetaton of 5–10 individuals. The birds were frequently observed cover in the wetlands of Haryana (Kumar et al. 2016). roostng on trees at banks of all the ponds. Waders, shorebirds, Purple Moorhen, and wagtails were Common Pochard - Vulnerable: This is a common also observed foraging in the irrigated wheat and paddy winter visitor in India (Grimmet et al. 1999). The species felds fanking the sacred ponds in rural habitats (Jyot was recorded in focks of 6–50 individuals during winter Sarovar and Baan Ganga). This observaton is consistent months (November–March) in Brahma Sarovar only. with earlier reports, where foraging by aquatc birds Comb Duck - Appendix II of CITES: A resident species outside the wetlands in surrounding agriculture felds in the Indian subcontnent with local movements has been recorded (Lane & Fujioka 1998; Mukherjee et (Grimmet et al. 1999) was recorded only at Jyot Sarovar al. 2002; Urf 2003; Jha 2013; Kumar et al. 2016). in a pair during summer (May 2014). Among the recorded avifauna, fve species, namely, In additon to the cultural and religious legacy of the Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Black-necked region, the presence of signifcant numbers of migratory Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiatcus, Black-headed species as well as those with conservaton priorites Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, River Tern Sterna underlines the importance of these sacred wetlands as auranta, and Alexandrine Parakeet Psitacula eupatria important bird habitats in Haryana. It is evident from are listed as Near Threatened, and one species, Common the present study that if some atenton is provided to Pochard Aythya ferina, as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red these sacred wetlands, these could be developed as a List (IUCN 2017). All the remaining species (n=120) are good site for harbouring avifauna and as a haven for placed in the Least Concern category in the Red List of bird-watchers. Our eforts contributed towards flling IUCN (2017). Additonally, nine species are included in biological informaton gaps in the region; contnuing Appendix-II of CITES (2012). Six species, including fve studies will allow monitoring of the populaton and species of Accipitridae and one of Phasianidae, are seasonal changes in the bird assemblage. considered natonally threatened as these are listed under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife (Protecton) Act, 1972. REFERENCES

Signifcant records Alfred, J.R.B., A. Kumar, P.C. Tak & J.P. Sat (2001). Waterbirds of Painted Stork - Near Threatened: A winter migrant Northern India. Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, xxvi+468pp. Ali, S. & S.D. Ripley (1987). Compact Handbook of the Birds of India in the study area was recorded in a small fock (4–8 and Pakistan together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and individuals) only at Jyot Sarovar during winter months Sri Lanka. Oxford University Press, Delhi, 737pp. Ali, A.M.S., S.R. Kumar & P.R. Arun (2013). Waterbird assemblage in (December–January). The birds were ofen recorded rural ponds of Samakhiali region, Kutch District, Gujarat, India. Bird roostng on large trees at the bank of the wetland. Populatons 12: 12–18. Black-necked Stork - Near Threatened: A lone male Aynalem, S. & A. Bekele (2008). Species compositon, relatve abundance and distributon of bird fauna of riverine and wetland individual was recorded foraging in the mud-fat adjacent habitats of Infranz and Yiganda at southern tp of Lake Tana, to Jyot Sarovar on 25January 2015. This species is very Ethiopia. Tropical Ecology 49(2): 199–209.

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Table 2. Checklist and status of avifauna recorded in sacred ponds of Kurukshetra in the Trans-Gangetc Plains, India

Conservaton status Sacred pond Image Order/family/common Residental Feeding Scientfc name IUCN CITES IWPA name status guild BS JS BG SS (2017) (2012) (1972) ANSERIFORMES Anatdae (15) Dendrocygna javanica 1 Lesser Whistling Duck SM O LC - IV û ü û û 1 (Horsfeld, 1821) Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus, 2 Common Shelduck WM O LC - IV ü û û û 1758) Tadorna ferruginea (Pallas, 3 Ruddy Shelduck WM O LC - IV ü û û û 2 1764) 4 Red Crested Pochard Neta rufna (Pallas, 1773) WM H LC - IV ü û û û 3

5 Common Pochard Aythya ferina (Linnaeus, 1758) WM O VU - IV ü û û û 4 Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus, 6 Tufed Duck WM H LC - IV ü û û û 5 1758) Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus, 7 Northern Shoveler WM O LC - IV ü ü û û 6 1758) Mareca strepera (Linnaeus, 8 Gadwall WM H LC - IV ü ü û û 7 1758) Mareca penelope (Linnaeus, 9 Eurasian Wigeon WM H LC - IV ü û û û 1758) Anas poecilorhyncha Forster, 10 Indian Spot-billed Duck WM H LC - IV ü ü û û 8 1781 Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 11 Mallard WM H LC - IV ü ü û û 9 1758 12 Northern Pintail Anas acuta Linnaeus, 1758 WM O LC - IV ü û û û 10

13 Common Teal Anas crecca Linnaeus, 1758 WM O LC - IV ü ü û û 11 Sarkidiornis melanotos 14 Comb Duck SM O LC II IV û ü û û 12 (Pennant, 1769) Netapus coromandelianus 15 Coton Teal SM O LC - IV û ü û û 13 (Gmelin, 1789) GALLIFORMES Phasianidae (2) 16 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 R O LC - I ü û û û 14 Francolinus pondicerianus 17 Grey Francolin R O LC - IV ü ü û û (Gmelin, 1789) PHOENICOPTERIFORMES Podicipedidae (2) Tachybaptus rufcollis (Pallas, 18 Litle Grebe R C LC - IV ü ü ü û 15 1764) Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus, 19 Great Crested Grebe WM C LC - IV ü û û û 16 1758) COLUMBIFORMES Columbidae (5) 20 Rock Pigeon Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 R G LC - IV ü ü ü ü 17 Spilopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 21 Spoted Dove R G LC - IV ü ü ü ü 18 1786) Streptopelia decaocto 22 Eurasian Collared Dove R G LC - IV ü ü ü ü 19 Frivaldszky, 1838 Spilopelia senegalensis 23 Laughing Dove R G LC - IV ü ü ü û 20 (Linnaeus, 1766) Yellow-legged Green Treron phoenicopterus 24 R F LC - IV ü ü ü ü 21 Pigeon (Latham, 1790) CAPRIMULGIFORMES Apodidae (1) 25 Indian House Swif Apus afnis (Gray, 1830) R In LC - IV û ü ü û CUCULIFORMES Cuculidae (3) Clamator jacobinus (Boddaert, 26 Pied Cuckoo SM In LC - IV ü û ü û 1783) Eudynamys scolopaceus 27 Asian Koel R O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 22 (Linnaeus, 1758)

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Conservaton status Sacred pond Image Order/family/common Residental Feeding Scientfc name IUCN CITES IWPA name status guild BS JS BG SS (2017) (2012) (1972) Centropus sinensis (Stephens, 28 Greater Coucal R C LC - IV ü ü ü ü 23 1815) GRUIFORMES Rallidae (4) White-breasted Amaurornis phoenicurus 29 R O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 24 Waterhen (Pennant, 1769) Porphyrio porphyrio (Linnaeus, 30 Purple Swamphen R O LC - IV û ü û û 25 1758) Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 31 Common Moorhen WM O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 26 1758) 32 Common Coot Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 WM O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 27 PELECANIFORMES Ciconiidae (3) Mycteria leucocephala 33 Painted Stork WM C NT - IV û ü û û 28 (Pennant, 1769) Anastomus oscitans 34 Asian Openbill WM C LC - IV û ü û û 29 (Boddaert, 1783) Ephippiorhynchus asiatcus 35 Black-necked Stork WM C NT - IV û ü û û (Latham, 1790) Ardeidae (8) Black-crowned Night- Nyctcorax nyctcorax 36 R C LC - IV ü ü ü û 30 Heron (Linnaeus, 1758) 37 Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832) R C LC - IV ü ü ü ü 31

38 Catle Egret Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) R C LC - IV ü ü ü ü 32

39 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 R C LC - IV û ü û û 33 Ardea purpurea Linnaeus, 40 Purple heron R C LC - IV ü ü û û 34 1766 41 Great Egret Ardea alba Linnaeus, 1758 WM C LC - IV ü ü ü û 35 Ardea intermedia Wagler, 42 Intermediate Egret WM C LC - IV ü ü ü û 36 1829 Egreta garzeta (Linnaeus, 43 Litle Egret R C LC - IV ü ü ü ü 37 1766) Threskiornithidae (3) Threskiornis melanocephalus 44 Black-headed Ibis R C NT - IV û ü û û 38 (Latham, 1790) Pseudibis papillosa 45 Indian Black Ibis R C LC - IV û ü û û 39 (Temminck, 1824) Plegadis falcinellus (Linnaeus, 46 Glossy Ibis R C LC - IV û ü û û 40 1766) Phalacrocoracidae (3) Microcarbo niger (Vieillot, 47 Litle Cormorant R C LC - IV ü ü ü ü 41 1817) Phalacrocorax carbo 48 Great Cormorant WM C LC - IV ü ü û ü 42 (Linnaeus, 1758) Phalacrocorax fuscicollis 49 Indian Cormorant WM P LC - IV ü ü û ü 43 Stephens, 1826 CHARADRIIFORMES Burhinidae (1) Burhinus oedicnemus 50 Eurasian Thick-knee R O LC - IV û ü û û 44 (Linnaeus, 1758) Recurvirostridae (2) Recurvirostra avoseta 51 Pied Avocet WM C LC - IV û ü û û 45 Linnaeus, 1758 Himantopus himantopus 52 Black-winged stlt R C LC - IV ü ü ü û 46 (Linnaeus, 1758) Charadriidae (2) Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 53 Red-watled Lapwing R C LC - IV ü ü ü ü 47 1783)

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Conservaton status Sacred pond Image Order/family/common Residental Feeding Scientfc name IUCN CITES IWPA name status guild BS JS BG SS (2017) (2012) (1972) Vanellus leucurus 54 White-tailed Lapwing WM C LC - IV û ü û û 48 (Lichtenstein, 1823) Rostratulidae (1) Rostratula benghalensis 55 Greater Painted-Snipe SM O LC - IV û ü û û (Linnaeus, 1758) Jacanidae (2) Hydrophasianus chirurgus 56 Pheasant-tailed Jacana SM O LC - IV û ü û û 49 (Scopoli, 1786) Metopidius indicus (Latham, 57 Bronze-winged Jacana R O LC - IV û ü û û 50 1790) Scolopacidae (3) Actts hypoleucos Linnaeus, 58 Common Sandpiper WM C LC - IV ü ü û û 51 1758 Tringa nebularia (Gunnerus, 59 Common Greenshank WM C LC - IV û ü û û 52 1767) Tringa totanus (Linnaeus, 60 Common Redshank WM C LC - IV û ü û û 53 1758) Laridae (2)

61 Pallas’s Gull Larus ichthyaetus Pallas, 1773 WM C LC - IV ü û û û

62 River Tern Sterna auranta Gray, 1831 R P NT - IV ü ü û û 54 ACCIPITRIFORMES Accipitridae (5) Elanus caeruleus 63 Black-winged Kite R C LC II I û ü û ü 55 (Desfontaines, 1789) Pernis ptlorhynchus 64 Oriental Honey Buzzard R C LC II I ü ü û û (Temminck, 1821) Accipiter badius (Gmelin, 65 Shikra R C LC II I ü ü ü û 56 1788) Haliastur Indus (Boddaert, 66 Brahminy Kite R C LC II I ü ü û û 57 1783) Milvus migrans (Boddaert, 67 Black Kite R C LC II I ü ü ü ü 58 1783) STRIGIFORMES Strigidae (1) Athene brama (Temminck, 68 Spoted Owlet R C LC II IV ü ü ü û 59 1821) BUCEROTIFORMES Bcerotdae (1) Ocyceros birostris (Scopoli, 69 Indian Grey Hornbill R O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 60 1786) Upupidae (1)

70 Common Hoopoe Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758 R In LC - IV û ü ü û 61 PICIFORMES Picidae (1) Lesser Golden-backed Dinopium benghalense 71 R In LC - IV ü ü û û 62 Woodpecker (Linnaeus, 1758) Ramphastdae (2) Psilopogon zeylanicus 72 Brown-headed Barbet R F LC - IV ü ü ü û 63 (Gmelin, 1788) Psilopogon haemacephalus 73 Coppersmith Barbet R F LC - IV ü ü û û 64 (Muller, 1776) CORACIIFORMES Meropidae (1) Merops orientalis Latham, 74 Green Bee-eater R In LC - IV ü ü ü ü 65 1802 Coraciidae (1) Coracias benghalensis 75 Indian Roller R C LC - IV û ü ü û 66 (Linnaeus, 1758) Alcedinidae (2)

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Conservaton status Sacred pond Image Order/family/common Residental Feeding Scientfc name IUCN CITES IWPA name status guild BS JS BG SS (2017) (2012) (1972) 76 Pied Kingfsher Ceryle rudis (Linnaeus, 1758) R P LC - IV ü û û û White-throated Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 77 R C LC - IV ü ü ü ü 67 Kingfsher 1758) PSITTACIFORMES Psitaculidae (3) Psitacula himalayana 78 Slaty-headed Parakeet WM F LC II IV ü û û û (Lesson, 1832) Psitacula eupatria (Linnaeus, 79 Alexandrine Parakeet R F NT II IV ü ü ü ü 68 1766) Psitacula krameri (Scopoli, 80 Rose-ringed Parakeet R F LC - IV ü ü ü ü 69 1769) PASSERIFORMES Campephagidae (1) Pericrocotus fammeus 81 Scarlet Minivet WM In LC - IV ü û û û (Forster, 1781) Dicruridae (1) Dicrurus macrocercus Vieillot, 82 Black Drongo R In LC - IV ü ü ü ü 70 1817 Laniidae (2) Lanius vitatus Valenciennes, 83 Bay-backed Shrike R C LC - IV û ü û û 1826 84 Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Linnaeus, 1758 R C LC - IV û ü û û 71

Corvidae (3) Dendrocita vagabunda 85 Rufous Treepie R O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 72 (Latham, 1790) Corvus splendens Vieillot, 86 House Crow R O LC - V ü ü ü ü 73 1817 Corvus macrorhynchos 87 Large-billed Crow WM O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 74 Wagler, 1827 Nectariniidae (1) Cinnyris asiatcus (Latham, 88 Purple Sunbird R In/N LC - IV ü ü ü ü 75 1790) Ploceidae (1) Ploceus philippinus (Linnaeus, 89 Baya Weaver R O LC - IV ü ü ü û 76 1766) Estrildidae (2) Euodice malabarica (Linnaeus, 90 Indian Silverbill R G LC III IV û ü û û 77 1758) Lonchura punctulata 91 Scaly-breasted Munia R O LC - IV ü ü û û 78 (Linnaeus, 1758) Passeridae (1) Passer domestcus (Linnaeus, 92 House Sparrow R O LC - IV û ü ü û 79 1758) Motacillidae (7) Anthus trivialis (Linnaeus, 93 Tree Pipit WM In LC - IV û ü û û 1758) 94 Paddyfeld Pipit Anthus rufulus Vieillot, 1818 R In LC - IV û ü û û 80

95 Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla fava Linnaeus, 1758 WM In LC - IV û ü û û 81 Motacilla cinerea Tunstall, 96 Grey Wagtail WM In LC - IV û ü û û 82 1771 97 Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Pallas, 1776 WM In LC - IV û ü û û 83 Motacilla maderaspatensis 98 White-browed Wagtail R In LC - IV ü ü ü ü Gmelin, 1789 99 White Wagtail Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758 WM In LC - IV ü ü ü ü 84

Cistcolidae (4) Cistcola juncidis (Rafnesque, 100 Zitng Cistcola R In LC - IV ü ü ü û 1810)

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Conservaton status Sacred pond Image Order/family/common Residental Feeding Scientfc name IUCN CITES IWPA name status guild BS JS BG SS (2017) (2012) (1972) 101 Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis Sykes, 1832 R In/N LC - IV ü ü ü û 85

102 Plain Prinia Prinia inornata Sykes, 1832 R In LC - IV û ü û û 86 Orthotomus sutorius 103 Common Tailorbird R In/N LC - IV ü ü ü û 87 (Pennant, 1769) Hirundinidae (6) Delichon urbicum (Linnaeus, 104 Northern House Martn R In LC - IV û ü û û 1758) 105 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Leach, 1818 R In LC - IV ü ü û û 88 Hirundo rustca Linnaeus, 106 Barn Swallow R In LC - IV ü û û û 1758 Ptyonoprogne rupestris 107 Eurasian Crag-Martn R In LC - IV ü û û û (Scopoli, 1769) Riparia paludicola (Vieillot, 108 Plain Martn R In LC - IV ü û û û 1817) Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 109 Sand Martn R In LC - IV ü û û û 1758) Pycnonotdae (1) Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 110 Red vented Bulbul R O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 89 1766) Zosteropidae (1) Zosterops palpebrosus 111 Oriental White-eye R In/N LC - IV ü ü û û 90 (Temminck, 1824) Timaliidae (1) White-browed Scimitar Pomatorhinus schistceps 112 WM O LC - IV û ü û û Babbler Hodgson, 1836 Leiothrichidae (3)

113 Large Grey Babbler Argya malcolmi (Sykes, 1832) R O LC - IV ü ü û û 91 Argya caudata (Dumont, 114 Common Babbler R O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 1823) Turdoides striata (Dumont, 115 Jungle Babbler R O LC - IV ü ü û û 92 1823) Sturnidae (4) Gracupica contra (Linnaeus, 116 Asian Pied Starling R O LC - IV ü ü ü û 93 1758) Sturnia pagodarum ( Gmelin, 117 Brahminy Starling R O LC - IV ü ü ü û 94 1789) Acridotheres trists (Linnaeus, 118 Common Myna R O LC - IV ü ü ü ü 95 1766) Acridotheres ginginianus 119 Bank Myna R O LC - IV ü ü ü û 96 (Latham, 1790) Muscicapidae (7) Saxicoloides fulicatus 120 Indian Robin R In LC - IV ü ü ü û 97 (Linnaeus, 1766) Copsychus saularis (Linnaeus, 121 Oriental Magpie Robin R In LC - IV ü ü ü ü 98 1758) Eumyias thalassinus Swainson, 122 Verditer Flycatcher WM In LC - IV ü û û û 1838 Cyanecula svecica (Linnaeus, 123 Bluethroat WM In LC - IV û ü û û 99 1758) Ficedula parva (Bechstein, 124 Red-breasted Flycatcher WM In LC - IV û ü û û 100 1792) Saxicola torquatus (Linnaeus, 125 Common Stonechat WM In LC - IV û ü û û 101 1766) 126 Brown Rock Chat Oenanthe fusca (Blyth, 1851) R In LC - IV ü ü û û 102

IUCN: Internatonal Union for Conservaton of Nature and Natural Resources; CITES: Conventon on Internatonal Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; IPWA: Indian Wildlife Protecton Act; R: Resident; SM: Summer migrant; WM: Winter migrant; LC: Least concern species; NT: Near threatened species; VU: Vulnerable species; I: Schedule- I species of IWPA (high priority species); IV: Schedule - IV species of IWPA (relatvely low priority species); BS - Brahma Sarovar; JS - Jyot Sarovar; BG - Baan Ganga, Dayalpur; SS - Sannihit Sarovar; C-Carnivore; H-Herbivore; In - Insectvore; O - Omnivore; N - Nectarivore; F - Fruigivore; G - Grainivore; P - Piscivore; ü - Species recorded in the habitat; û - Species not recorded in the habitat.

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Table 3. Relatve diversity of various avian families in sacred ponds Badola, H.K. & S. Aitken(2010). Biological resources and poverty of Kurukshetra, India alleviaton in the Indian Himalayas. Biodiversity 11(3&4): 8–18; htp://doi.org/10.1080/14888386.2010.9712659 No. of Relatve Bibby, C.J., N.D. Burgess, D.A. Hill & S.H. Mustoe (2000). Bird Census Order Family species abundance Techniques. Academic Press, London, 302pp. recorded (%) Buckton, S. (2007). Managing wetlands for sustainable livelihoods at Anseriformes Anatdae 15 11.90 Koshi Tappu. Danphe 16(1): 12–13. Galliformes Phasianidae 2 1.59 Chandra, K. & P.U. Gajbe (2005). An inventory of herpetofauna of Madhya Pradesh and Chhatsgarh. Zoos’ Print Journal 20(3): 1812– Phoenicopteriformes Podicipedidae 2 1.8 1819; htp://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.1087.1812-9 Columbiformes Columbidae 5 3.96 CITES (2012). Checklist of Conventon on Internatonal Trade in Caprimulgiformes Apodidae 1 0.79 Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES, Geneva, Switzerland. Downloaded on 22 December 2016; htp://www.cites. Cuculiformes Cuculidae 3 2.38 org Gruiformes Rallidae 4 3.17 Codesido,M., C.M. González-Fischer & D.N. Bilenca (2013). Landbird assemblages in diferent agricultural landscapes: a case study in the Pelecaniformes Ciconiidae 3 2.38 Pampas of Central Argentna. The Condor 115(1): 8–16; htp://doi. Ardeidae 8 6.34 org/10.1525/cond.2012.120011 Threskiornithidae 3 2.38 Custer, T.W. & R.G. Osborn (1977). Wading birds as biological indicators: 1975 colony survey. United States fsh and wildlife Phalacrocoracidae 3 2.38 Services, Special Scientfc Report-Wildlife. No. 206. Charadriiformes Burhinidae 1 0.79 Getzner, M. (2002). Investgatng public decisions about protectng Recurvirostridae 2 1.59 wetlands. Journal of Environmental Management 64(3): 237–246; htp://doi.org/10.1006/jema.2001.0471 Charadriidae 2 1.59 Gopal, B. & M. Sah (1993). Conservaton and management of rivers in Rostratulidae 1 0.79 India: case study of the River Yamuna. Environmental Conservaton 20(3):243–254; htp://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892900023031 Jacanidae 2 1.59 Green, A.J. (1996). Analysis of globally threatened Anatdae in relaton Scolopacidae 3 2.38 to threats, distributon, migraton paterns, and habitat use. Laridae 2 1.59 Conservaton Biology 10(5): 1435–1445; htp://doi.org/10.1046/ j.1523-1739.1996.10051435.x Accipitriformes Accipitridae 5 3.96 Grimmet, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp (1999). Pocket Guide to the Birds Strigiformes Strigidae 1 0.79 of the Indian Subcontnent. Oxford University Press, New Delhi, India, 384pp. Bucerotformes Bucerotdae 1 0.79 Gupta, S.K. & P. Kumar (2009). Survey of avian fauna in and around Upupidae 1 0.79 Kurukshetra, Haryana, India. The Indian Forester 135(10): 1367– Piciformes Picidae 1 0.79 1376. IUCN (2017). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2017-1. Ramphastdae 2 1.59 Downloaded on 20 August 2017; www.iucnredlist.org Coraciiformes Meropidae 1 0.79 IWPA (1972). The Indian Wildlife (Protecton) Act, 1972 (as amended Coraciidae 1 0.79 upto 1993).Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, Delhi. Downloaded on 04 April 2017; htp:// Alcedinidae 2 1.59 www.envfor.nic.in/legis/wildlife/wildlife1 Psitaciformes Psitaculidae 3 2.38 Jha, K.K. (2013). Aquatc food plants and their consumer birds at Sandi Bird Sanctuary, Hardoi, Northern India. Asian Journal of Passeriformes Campephagidae 1 0.79 Conservaton Biology 2(1): 30–43. Dicruridae 1 0.79 Jose, B. & V.J. Zacharias (2003). Distributon of birds in relaton Laniidae 2 1.59 to vegetaton in the Calicut University Campus, Kerala. Zoos’ Print Journal 18(9): 1187–1192; htp://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT. Corvidae 3 2.38 ZPJ.18.9.1187-92 Nectariniidae 1 0.79 Kazmierczak, K. & B.V. Perlo (2000). A Field Guide to the Birds of India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Ploceidae 1 0.79 Om Book Service, New Delhi, 352pp. Estrildidae 2 1.59 Kler, T.K. (2002). Bird species in Kanjali wetland. Tiger Paper 39(1): Passeridae 1 0.79 29–32. Kumar, P. & S.K. Gupta (2009). Diversity and abundance of wetland Motacillidae 7 5.55 birds around Kurukshetra, India. Our Nature 7(1): 212–217; htp:// Cistcolidae 4 3.17 doi.org/10.3126/on.v7i1.2574 Kumar, P. & S.K. Gupta (2013). Status of wetland birds of Chhilchhila Hirundinidae 6 4.76 Wildlife Sanctuary, Haryana, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(5): Pycnonotdae 1 0.79 3469–3976; htp://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3158.3969-76 Zosteropidae 1 0.79 Kumar, A., J.P. Sat, P.C. Tak & J.R.B. Alfred (2005). Handbook on Indian Wetland Birds and their Conservaton. Zoological Survey of India, Timaliidae 1 0.79 Kolkata,India, xxvi+468pp. Leiothrichidae 3 2.38 Kumar, P., D. Rai & S.K. Gupta (2016). Wetland bird assemblage in Sturnidae 4 3.17 rural ponds of Kurukshetra, India. Waterbirds 39(1): 86–98; htp:// doi.org/10.1675/063.039.0111 Muscicapidae 7 5.55 Lane, S.J. & M. Fujioka (1998). The impact of changes in irrigaton practces on the distributon of foraging egrets and herons

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(Ardeidae) in the rice felds of central Japan. Biological Conservaton Stewart, R.E., Jr. (2007).Technical Aspects of wetlands: Wetlands 83(2): 221–230; htp://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(97)00054-2 as Bird Habitat.Natonal Water Summary on Wetland Resources, Ma, Z., Y. Cai, B. Li & J. Chen (2010). Managing wetland habitats for United States Geological Survey Water Supply paper 2425, 86pp. waterbirds: an internatonal perspectve. Wetlands 30(1): 15–27; Subramanya, S. (1996). Distributon, status and conservaton of Indian htp://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-009-0001-6 heronries. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 93(3): MacArthur, R.H. & J.W. MacArthur (1961). On bird species diversity. 459–486. Ecology 42(3): 594–598; htp://doi.org/10.2307/1932254 Surana, R., B.R. Subba & K.P. Limbu (2007). Avian diversity during Maltby, E. & R.E. Turner (1983). Wetlands of the world. Geographical rehabilitaton stage of Chimdi Lake, Sunsari, Nepal. Our Nature 5(1): Magazine 55: 12–17. 75–80; htp://doi.org/10.3126/on.v5i1.802 Manral, U., A. Raha, R. Solanki, S.A. Hussain, M.M. Babu, D. Mohan, Tak, P.C., J.P. Sat & A.N. Rizvi (2010). Status of water birds at G.G. Veeraswami, K. Sivakumar & G. Talukdar (2013). Plant species Hathnikund Barrage wetland, Yamunanagar District, Haryana, India. of Okhla Bird Sanctuary: a wetland of Upper Gangetc Plains, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 2(4): 841–844; htp://doi.org/10.11609/ Check List 9(2): 263–274; htp://doi.org/10.15560/9.2.263 JoTT.o2200.841-4 Morrison, M.L. (1986). Bird Populatons as indicators of environmental Tews, J., U. Brose, V. Grimm, K. Tielbörger, M.C. Wichmann, M. change, pp. 429–451. In: Johnston, R. (ed.). Current Ornithology - Schwager & F. Jeltsch (2004). Animal species diversity driven Vol. 3. Springer, Boston, 522pp. by habitat heterogeneity/diversity: the importance of keystone Mukherjee, A., C.K. Borad & B.M. Parasharya (2002). A study of the structures. Journal of Biogeography 31(1): 79–92; htp://doi. ecological requirements of waterfowl at man-made reservoirs in org/10.1046/j.0305-0270.2003.00994.x Kheda District, Gujarat, India, with a view towards conservaton, Torell, M., A.M. Salamanca & M. Ahmed (2001). Management of management and planning. Zoos’ Print Journal 17(5): 775–785; wetland resources in the Lower Mekong Basin: issues and future htp://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.17.5.775-85 directons. Naga 24(3 &4): 4–10. Nudds, T.D. & J.N. Bowlby (1984). Predator-prey size relatonships Torre-Cuadros, M.D.L.A.L., S. Herrando-Perez & K.R. Young (2007). in North American dabbling ducks. Canadian Journal of Zoology Diversity and structure paterns for tropical montane and 62(10): 2002–2008. premontane forests of central Peru, with an assessment of the use Panigrahy, S., T.V.R. Murthy, J.G. Patel & T.S. Singh (2012). Wetlands of of higher-taxon surrogacy. Biodiversity and Conservaton 16(10): India: inventory and assessment at 1:50,000 scale using geospatal 2965–2988. techniques. Current Science 102(6): 852–856. Urf, A.J. (2003). The birds of Okhla Barrage Bird Sanctuary, Delhi, Prasad, S.N., T.V. Ramachandra, N. Ahalya, T. Sengupta, A. Kumar, A.K. India. Forktail 19: 39–50. Tiwari, V.S. Vijayan & L. Vijayan (2002). Conservaton of wetlandsof Verma, A., S. Balachandran, N. Chaturvedi & V. Patl (2004). A India - a review.Tropical Ecology 43(1): 173–186. preliminary report on the biodiversity of Mahul Creek, Mumbai, Praveen, J., R. Jayapal & A. Pite (2016). A checklist of the birds of India, with special reference to Avifauna. Zoos’Print Journal 19(9): India. Indian Birds 11(5&6): 113–172. 1599–1605; htp://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.1172.1599-605 Rahmani, A.R. (1989). Status of the Black-necked Stork Wiens, J.A. (1989). The Ecology of Bird Communites. Cambridge Ephippiorhynchus asiatcus in the Indian subcontnent. Forktail 5: University Press, Cambridge, 539pp. 99–110. Zedler, J.B. & S. Kercher (2005). Wetland resources: status, trends, Reginald, L.J., C. Mahendran, S.S. Kumar & P. Pramod (2007). Birds of ecosystem services, and restorability. Annual Review of Environment Singanallur Lake, Coimbture, Tamilnadu. Zoos’ Print Journal22(12): and Resources 30: 39–74; htp://doi.org/10.1146/annurev. 2944–2948; htp://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.1657.2944-8 energy.30.050504.144248

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Image 1. Lesser Whistling Duck Image 2. Ruddy Shelduck Image 3. Red Crested Pochard

Image 4. Common Pochard Image 5. Tufed Duck Image 6. Northern Shoveler

Image 7. Gadwall Image 8. Indian Spot-billed Duck

Image 9. Mallard Image 10. Northern Pintail Image 11. Common Teal

Image 12. Comb Duck Image 13. Coton Teal Image 14. Indian Peafowl

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Image 15. Litle Grebe Image 16. Great Crested Grebe Image 17. Rock Pigeon

Image 20. Laughing Dove

Image 18. Spoted Dove Image 19. Eurasian Collared Dove

Image 26. Common Moorhen

Image 24. White-breasted Waterhen © Authors

Image 25. Purple Swamphen

Image 27. Common Coot Image 28. Painted Stork

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 12187 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma

Image 32. Catle Egret © Authors Image 34. Purple heron Image 33. Grey Heron

Image 37. Litle Egret © Authors © Authors Image 36. Intermediate Egret © Authors

Image 40. Glossy Ibis Image 38. Black-headed Ibis Image 39. Indian Black Ibis

12188 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma

Image 42. Great Cormorant

Image 43. Indian Cormorant © Authors

Image 45. Pied Avocet

Image 44. Eurasian Thick-knee

Image 50. Bronze-winged Jacana

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 12189 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma

Image 54. River Tern

Image 57. Brahminy Kite Image 56. Shikra

Image 58. Black Kite

Image 61. Common Hoopoe

12190 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma

Image 68. Alexandrine Parakeet Image 69. Rose-ringed Parakeet

Image 70. Black Drongo

Image 77. Indian Silverbill

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 12191 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma

Image 79. House Sparrow Image 80. Paddyfeld Pipit Image 81. Western Yellow Wagtail

Image 82. Grey Wagtail Image 83. Citrine Wagtail Image 84. White Wagtail

12192 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 Avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra Kumar & Sharma

Image 92. Jungle Babbler

Image 96. Bank Myna Image 97. Indian Robin

Image 102. Brown Rock Chat Threatened Taxa

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2018 | 10(9): 12173–12193 12193 OPEN ACCESS The Journal of Threatened Taxa is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles online every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows unrestricted use of artcles in any medium, reproducton, and distributon by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publicaton.

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online); ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)

August 2018 | Vol. 10 | No. 9 | Pages: 12147–12298 Date of Publicaton: 26 August 2018 (Online & Print) www.threatenedtaxa.org DOI: 10.11609/jot.2018.10.9.12147-12298

Artcle Angiosperm diversity of Sonbhadra District, Utar Pradesh: a checklist -- Arun Kumar Kushwaha, Lalit Mohan Tewari & Lal Babu Chaudhary, Appearances are deceptve: molecular phylogeny recovers the Scaly Gecko Pp. 12247–12269 Hemidactylus scabriceps (Reptlia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) as a member of a scansorial and rupicolous clade Contributon to the Macromycetes of West Bengal, India: 23–27 -- Achyuthan N. Srikanthan , Gandla Chethan Kumar, Aishwarya J. Urs & -- Meghma Bera, Soumitra Paloi, Arun Kumar Duta, Prakash Pradhan, Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh, Pp. 12147–12162 Anirban Roy & Krishnendu Acharya, Pp. 12270–12276

Communicatons Notes

Foraging and roostng ecology of the Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat Animal-fungal interactons 2: frst report of mycophagy by the Cynopterus brachyots (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) in southern Eastern European Hedgehog Erinaceus concolor Martn, 1837 India (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Erinaceidae) -- T. Karuppudurai & K. Sripathi, Pp. 12163–12172 -- Todd F. Elliot, James M. Trappe & Aziz Türkoğlu, Pp. 12277–12279

Diversity and status of avifauna in man-made sacred ponds of Kurukshetra, Rostral anomaly in a juvenile Spiny Buterfy Ray Gymnura altavela India (Linnaeus, 1758) (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatformes: Gymnuridae) from the -- Parmesh Kumar & Archna Sharma, Pp. 12173–12193 Canary Islands -- Filip Osaer & Krupskaya Narváez, Pp. 12280–12281 Diversity and distributon of freshwater turtles (Reptlia: Testudines) in Goa, India A record afer 52 years, and additonal descripton of the emesine assassin -- Trupt D. Jadhav, Nitn S. Sawant & Soorambail K. Shyama, Pp. 12194–12202 bug Emesopsis nubila (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Emesinae) from western India Breeding behaviour of the Coromandel Damselfy -- Balasaheb V. Sarode, Nikhil U. Joshi, Pratk P. Pansare & Hemant V. Ghate, Ceriagrion coromandelianum (Fabricius) (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) Pp. 12282–12285 in central India: copulaton -- Nilesh R. Thaokar, Payal R. Verma & Raymond J. Andrew, Pp. 12203–12209 Gentana aperta (Gentanaceae) - a new record to India from Ladakh Himalaya The status assessment of Corynandra viscosa subsp. nagarjunakondensis -- Mohd Shabir, Priyanka Agnihotri, Jay Krishan Tiwari & Tariq Husain, (Magnoliopsida: Cleomaceae), endemic to Nagarjunakonda, Andhra Pp. 12286–12289 Pradesh, India -- Veeravarapu Hanumantha Rao, Vaidyula Vasudeva Rao, Notes on Cinnamomum travancoricum Gamble (Lauraceae) - Anut Baleeshwar Reddy & Vatsavaya Satyanarayana Raju, Pp. 12210–12217 a Critcally Endangered species from the southern Western Ghats, India -- A.J. Robi, P. Sujanapal & P.S. Udayan, Pp. 12290–12293

Short Communicatons A reassessment and lectotypifcaton of the name Striga masuria (Buch.-Ham. ex Benth.) Benth. (Orobanchaceae) and its collecton from New records of termites (Blatodea: Termitdae: Syntermitnae) from the Western Ghats of India Colombia -- M. Omalsree & V.K. Sreenivas, Pp. 12294–12297 -- Olga Patricia Pinzón & Daniel Castro, Pp. 12218–12225

New reports of thrips (Thysanoptera: Terebranta: Thripidae) from India Miscellaneous -- R.R. Rachana & R. Varatharajan, Pp. 12226–12229 Natonal Biodiversity Authority New records of earthworm fauna (Oligochaeta: Glossoscolecidae and Megascolecidae) collected from Satkosia-Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary of Odisha, India Member -- Rinku Goswami, Pp. 12230–12234

Diversity and endemism of buterfies of montane forests of Eravikulam Natonal Park in the Western Ghats, India -- E.R. Sreekumar, S. Nikhil, K.G. Ajay & P.O. Nameer, Pp. 12235–12246

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