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STUDY REPORT First Sighting Record of Grey ( squatarola ) or Black Bellied Plover in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra

Shishir M Shendokar

Wildlife and Environment Conservation Society, 42, Green park colony, Shegaon road, Amravati, Maharashtra, .

Abstract

*Corresponding Author: We sighted Grey Plover ( Pluvialis squatarola ) at Dagadparwa Shishir M Shendokar reservoir near Akola, Maharashtra. The grey plover spotted during study of Email: [email protected] migration of . I have discussed the rarity of plover in inland because the plover is long distance migrant only found at shores. In this research Received: 19/04/2017 note I have discussed the migration route and threats in migration route of Accepted: 14/06/2017 this plover.

Keywords : Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola , Sighting record of Grey Plover.

The Grey Plover ( Pluvialis squatarola ), also Dagadparwa Reservoir (20.533 N-77.083 E) is known as the Black bellied plover in North America. It located 19 kms away from Akola city. The reservoir is is a medium sized plover breeding in regions. It surrounded by crop and cultivated land. On 3 rd is long distance migrant, with nearly worldwide costal December, 2014 the day was dark, cloudy and humid distribution when not breeding. (Birdlife international, than routine daily climate, while birding at 2012). Preparation for migration, in spring and summer Dagadparwa Reservoir I saw a which confused the adult are spotted black and white on the back me. In the mudflats of reservoir, I sighted a small wings. The face and neck are black with a white medium sized plover like bird resting on the muddy border, they have a black breast and belly and a white island, slowly I tried to go closer to the bird to get good rump. The tail is white with black barring. The bill and photograph. Fortunately somehow I could photograph legs are black. They moult in winter plumage in mid it. At the first sight I considered it as a Pacific Golden August to early September and retain this until April, Plover ( Pluvialis fulva ) but after referring field guides this being a fairly plain grey above, with a grey it was identified as a Black-Bellied Plover (Pluvialis speckled breast and belly. The juvenile and first winter squatarola) adult in non-breeding plumage. plumages, held by young birds from fledging until On 03 rd December 2014 the weather condition about one year old, are similar to the adult winter was bad and as we know the plover is long distance plumage but with the back feathers blacker with migrant, as described in various literatures. On the creamy white edging. In all plumages the inner flanks basis of the behavior and habitat study of this bird and axillary feathers at the base of the under-wing are given in different literature, we may conclude that the black. bird had travelled from West coast of India to south They breed in Arctic islands and coastal areas coast India. During its journey, the bird faced heavy across the northern coasts of Alaska, , and rain, fog and bad light condition and landed at (Birdlife International, 2012). They migrate to Dagadparwa reservoir. Another reason may be it winter in coastal areas throughout the word. From stopped to gain energy which it might have lost during southern throughout coastal southern Asia and its long journey. The plover stayed at same location up , with few reaching , Most of the to a week from 03 rd December 2014 to 09 th December migrants to Australia are female. It makes regular 2014. After 09 th December 2014, I never saw this bird nonstop transcontinental flight over Asia, Europe and at Dagadparwa reservoir again. Hence we can consider North America, but is mostly a rare vagrant on the the Grey plover as a vagrant or Passage migrant for this ground in the interior of continents, only landing region of Maharashtra. After literature survey, we occasionally if force down by severe weather, or to found that this is the first sighting of Grey plover from feed on the coast like shores of large . (IUCN-Red Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. (Abdulali (1981), Ali list of Threatened Species, Bird life international and Ripley (1983), Rahmani et al. (2013)), and about 2012). its status, the grey plover is one of the species to which

Journal of Wildlife Research | April-June, 2017 | Volume 05 | Issue 02 | Pages 30-31 © 2017 Jakraya Shendokar… First Sighting Record of Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) or Black Bellied Plover in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra

Fig 1: Grey Plover non breeding plumage the Agreement on the Conservation of African- weather condition. The bird is purely coastal and its Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. sighting is rare in inland hence we conclude the Grey Plover is vagrant or passage migrant for the region of 2. Conclusion Vidhrbha, Maharashtra. The grey plover is a long distance migrant as describe in various literature. we may conclude that the Acknowledgement bird had travel from West coast of India to South coast I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Dr Bahar of India, during his long journey plover faced heavy Baviskar and Rutuja Kukde for encouraging me for rain, fog and bad light condition as same condition in writing and timely guidance. I would also like thanks to sighting date, due to grey plover land at Dagadpara Dr Jayant Wadatkar for his support and special thanks reservoir or another reason may plover stop to gain to Mrs Prashant Tirmare for his technical help. energy which it might have lost during journey in bad

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Journal of Wildlife Research | April-June, 2017 | Volume 05 | Issue 02 | Pages 30-31 © 2017 Jakraya 31