Journal of Research in Biology An International Scientific Research Journal Original Research A study on the wetland avian species of Sultanpur National Park Gurgaon, Haryana (India) Authors: ABSTRACT: Girish Chopra, Anil K. Tyor and The present study was conducted in Sultanpur National Park Gurgaon, Seema Kumari* Haryana (India) from February, 2011 to January, 2013 to analyze the avian diversity along with its status and abundance. During the study period, a total of 79 wetland species belongings to 10 orders, 23 families and 56 genera were identified. The order Anseriformes was the most dominant represented by 18.9% of the total identified wetland avian species followed by Charadriiformes (17.72%), Passeriformes (16.45%), Ciconiiformes (15.18%) and Pelecaniformes (5.06%). The order Apodiformes and Institution: Podicipediformes were the least represented order (1.26%) with one species each, Department of Zoology, namely, Swift, Apus apus and Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis respectively. Out of Kurukshetra University, total 79 wetland avian species, 31 were ‘occasional’ species, 13 were ‘uncommon’ Kurukshetra- 136119, species, 12 were ‘abundant’ species, 11 were ‘common’ species and 12 were ‘rare’ Haryana (India) species. Based on the frequency of sighting, Pied King Fisher, Ceryle rudis; Chestnut Headed Bee-Eater, Merops leschenaultia; Cotton Pygmy Goose, Nettapus coromandelianus; Eurasian Spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia; Little-ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius; Pheasant-Tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus were ‘rarely sighted’ wetland species. Corresponding author: Keywords: Seema Kumari Wetland, Wetland Species, Water Birds, Water Associated Birds, Sultanpur National Park. Email Id: Article Citation: Girish Chopra, Anil K. Tyor and Seema Kumari A study on the wetland avian species of Sultanpur National Park Gurgaon, Haryana (India) Journal of Research in Biology in Biology Research Journal of Web Address: Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1032-1040 http://jresearchbiology.com/ documents/RA0370.pdf. Dates: Received: 24 July 2013 Accepted: 30 July 2013 Published: 23 Aug 2013 This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/2.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 1032-1040 | JRB | 2013 | Vol 3 | No 5 Journal of Research in Biology An International Scientific Research Journal www.jresearchbiology.com Chopra et al., 2013 INTRODUCTION of wetland ecosystem, as they form important links in the The wetlands can be defined as transitional lands food web and nutrient cycles. between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem where the From time to time various ornithologists have water table is near the surface or land is covered by studied flora and fauna in various wetland ecosystems in shallow water (Mitsch and Gosselink, 1986). One of the protected areas (Saxena, 1975; Hussain et al., 1984; best functions of wetlands is that these provide the best Singh and Roy, 1990; Hosetti et al., 2001; Bhat et al., preferred ground for feeding, breeding, nesting, roosting 2009; Chopra and Sharma, 2012). for birds as well as rearing site for their young ones Sultanpur National Park is one of the famous (Stewart, 2007). According to Vyas, (1992), freshwater wetlands in northern India. This national park is wetland alone support 20% of known range of considered as a major habitat for the cross boundary biodiversity in India Therefore, monitoring of these sites migratory birds. Keeping in view of the conservational provides valuable information about the ecological values of wetland birds, systematic efforts have been health and status thereof, which can be a key tool for made during the present study with an objective to developing awareness regarding the importance and prepare the exhaustive checklist of wetland and wetland conservation value of wetlands. wetlands are used by dependent/associated birds of Sultanpur National Park. birds for the purpose of feeding, nesting and roosting and these birds are generally classify as „water birds‟ or MATERIALS AND METHODS popularly known as waterfowls and waders. According Sultanpur National Park (28°28‟ N latitude and to Kumar et al., (2011), bird groups like kingfishers, 76° 53‟ E longitudes) (Fig. 1) is located in a raptors and some passerines are also ecologically depend predominantly agricultural landscape with an area of on wetlands, hence known as wetland dependent/ 13,727 ha and includes its core area of 143 ha of low- associated birds. These birds are the essential component lying marshes, which were notified as a bird sanctuary Fig. 1(a) Location of study site within the Fig.1(b) Diagrammatic presentation of map of Haryana Sultanpur National Park 1033 Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1032-1040 Chopra et al., 2013 by the Haryana State Government in 1971 (Kalpavriksh, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1994). Sultanpur Lake is a seasonal lake with irregular Besides being ideal indicators of the health of margins and fluctuating water level throughout the year, wetland, the wetland birds play a significant role in being maximum water level in rainy season and winters, human lives culturally, socially and scientifically and nearly dried condition during hot summer season. (Stewart, 2007). As a wetland ecosystem, Sultanpur Periodic fortnightly visits were conducted from National Park provided varied habitats, including forest February, 2011 to January, 2013 in terrestrial and aquatic patch and low laying marshy areas for nesting and habitats in the area in the early morning and later in the feeding of various types of birds. evening to record avian species. Line transects method During the study period of two years from (Sale and Berkmuller, 1988) and point count methods February, 2011 to January, 2013, 79 wetland species (Blondel, et al., 1981) were used to enumerate the belongings to 10 orders, 23 families and 57 genera were population of birds‟ species. Binoculars (Nikon 7×50 reported from Sultanpur National Park (Table 1). These CF) were used to locate/identify the distant birds, Sony include both water bird species and water associated bird handy cam models DCR-HC-42E and digital camera species; former were significantly more than latter. A Nikon L-120 model were used to take photograph of the checklist of the wetland birds observed during the study birds encountered. Later, the wetland populations were period along with their conservation status and identified with the help of different field guides (Ali and abundance is represented in Table 1. Ripley, 1987; Grimmett et al., 1998 and Inskipp et al., Earlier studies have also revealed the existence 1999). of significant number of wetland avian species in the Seasonal variation in avian diversity was wetland area of Haryana (Harvey, 2003; Gupta and recorded in different season‟s viz., winter, summer, Kaushik, 2008; Gupta et al., 2011 and Chopra and monsoon and autumn seasons. On the basis of frequency Sharma, 2012). Harvey (2003) reported a total of 102 of sighting, the observed birds were segregated following wetland avian species which includes 58 species Srinivasulu and Nagulu (2002), as Ab-abundant occasional and 44 species of uncommon bird in the (encounter rate 95 % to 100 %); Cm- common wetland of Sultanpur region of Gurgaon district (encounter rate 65% to 95%); Uc- uncommon (encounter (Haryana). Gupta and Kaushik, (2008) reported a total of rate 40% to 60%) Oc - occasional (encounter rate 20% to 80 wetland avian species belonged to 10 orders and 20 40%); and Rr- rare (encounter rate less than 20%). families in northern Haryana. Gupta and Kaushik, (2011) Status of the birds were categorized as: RS- resident reported 47 species of wetland birds belonging to 9 species (found in the study area throughout the year); orders and 13 families in the wetland area of WM- winter migrant species (found in the study area Yamunanagar District (Haryana). Chopra and Sharma, only in winter season); LM- local migrant species (found (2012) reported 88 wetland avian species belonging to 17 irregularly in study site but resident of India); SM- orders and 32 families in the wetland area of Panchkula summer migrant species (found in the study area only district of Haryana. during summer season) and SU- status unknown species During the present study, out of total reported 79 (not observed in any of the above mentioned categories). wetland avian species, 20 (25.3%) were „resident‟ species and 59 (74.6%) were „migrant‟ species. The migrant species included 11 (14%) local migrants, 43 (55%) winter migrants and only 5(6%) summer migrants Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1032-1040 1034 Chopra et al., 2013 Table 1: Systematic position, status and abundance of wetland species in Sultanpur National Park Gurgaon, Haryana (India). Order Family Common name Zoological name Status Abundance 1.Podicipediformes Podicipedidae Little Grebe 1.Tachybaptus ruficollis RS Oc 2.Pelecaniformes Phalacrocoracidae Little Cormorant 2.Phalacrocorax niger RS Cm Great Cormorant 3. Phalacrocorax carbo L M Oc Indian Cormorant 4. Phalacrocorax fuscicollis RS Cm Darter 5. Anhinga melanogaster L M Oc 3.Ciconiiformes Ardeidae Grey Heron 6. Ardea cinerea L M Uc Purple Heron 7. Ardea purpurea RS Oc Indian Pond Heron 8. Ardeola grayii RS Ab Great Egret 9. Casmerodius albus L M Oc Little Egret 10. Egretta garzetta L M Uc Cattle Egret 11. Bubulcus ibis RS A b Intermediate Egret 12. Mesophoyx intermedia L M Oc Painted Stork 13. Mycteria leucocephala RS A b Ciconiidae Black Necked Stork 14. Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus W M Rr Open Billed Stork 15. Anastomus oscitans L M Uc Threskiornithidae Black headed Ibis 16. Threskiornis melanocephalus W M Oc Eurasian Spoonbill 17. Platalea leucorodia SM Rr 4.Anseriformes Anatidae Greylag Goose 18. Anser anser W M Ab Bar Headed Goose 19. Anser indicus W M Ab Spot Billed Duck 20. Anas poecilorhyncha W M Ab Common Pochard 21. Aythya ferina W M Cm Eurasian Wigeon 22. Anas penelope W M Ab Tufted Pochard 23. Aythya fuligula W M Uc Cotton Pygmy Goose 24.