IJRBAT, Special Issue (2), Vol-V, July 2017 ISSN No. 2347-517X (Online)

Avian Fauna in Tumsar Tahsil of District (MS) Salwe Arti A. and Jadhao Madhukar F. Department of Zoology, S.N. Mor College, Tumsar Dist: Bhandara (MS)-4419012 Email: [email protected] and [email protected] ABSTRACT Random survey was carried during October 2016 to March 2017 in order to study the diversity of avian fauna in Tumsar tahsil of of Easte rn (). A total of 104 specie s of birds we re obse rved belonging 16 order and 42 families. Order Passeriforme s was the most dominant consisting of 20 familie s. Family Muscicapidae of this orde r was found to be dominant with 9 species. Out of 104 species of birds re corded in the pre sent study, one species was observed as Endangered, two under Not Threatened and remaining 101 specie s were recorde d under Least Concern category. Twenty one specie s (20.19 %) were recorded as Migratory and remaining 83 bird species (79.80 %) were reporte d as Residential. KEYWORDS- Avian Fauna, Endangered Species, Migratory, Re sidential, Threatene d and Tumsar tahsil.

INTRODUCTION along with wide range climatic condition that Avian fauna is one of the most important provide diverse range of habitat, abundant verity components of ecosystem and being sensitive to of food, suitable resting place available environmental change the birds act as key throughout year for migratory as well as indicator for assessing the status of ecosystem residential bird, no information was available on health (Olechnowski, 2009). The diversity and species diversity of birds in Tumsar tahsil. richness of avian species in a community are Therefore, the present scientific survey has been totally depending on that habitat. The avian carried out to study avian fauna of Tumsar tahsil habitat is roughly divided into forest, scrub, grass of Bhandara district in Maharashtra (India). land, fresh water bodies, sea shore and many MATERIALS AND METHODS species require a mixed type of habitat. Study area: Birds are of great economic importance to Tumsar is a city and municipal council in the human society. They play an important role Bhandara district in Eastern of in controlling population of different insects and Maharashtra state. It covers an area of 802.50 km pests. They play the role of scavengers and square. It is located at 2121° 22T 50U N, pollinating agents and also help in dispersal of 79° 44T 50U E in Eastern Maharashtra. It has an seeds of different vegetations. They are helpful average elevation of 272 meters (892 feet). The and help to provide rich food for mankind and are weather is very well balanced in all seasons known to man since ages (Nason, 1992). Birds are excluding summer, temperatures in summers is bipedal, egg laying warm blooded vertebrates with as high as 48 degrees Celsius and in winters as more than 9000 living species across the world. cool as 12 degrees Celsius. Tumsar is famous for The Indian subcontinent contains about 1300 large production of rice and therefore fondly species all over 13% of the world birds (Grimmett known as ‘Rice Bowl’ of the state. Large area of et al, 1998) and Maharashtra houses 43.67% this tahsil has been surrounded by dense forest, (more than 500 species) of total Indian avifauna. river (Vainganga), natural water bodies (many The estimation of local densities of avifauna helps lakes) and rice fields along with wide range to understand the abundance of various species climatic conditions that provide diverse range of of other organisms. Avifaunal diversity all over the habitat for birds. world has been decreasing due to the destruction Methods (Data Collections): of natural habitat and various anthropogenic In order to study the avian diversity of the birds, activities. a general survey was carried out for six months at There are many studies that have already various locations (forests, water bodies, rice fields been conducted on bird diversity in different and in and around the Tumsar city) in the Tumsar habitat in Maharashtra such as Tadoba Andheri tahsil of Bhandara district from October 2016 to Tiger Reserve Chandrapur (Mahabal, 2006), March 2017. Birds were observed twice a day at Chaprala wild life sanctuary of district Gadchoroli morning time and evening time for three-four (Chavhan et al., 2012), Pohara-Malkhed reserve hours. The visits were made during early forest, Amravati (Wadatkar and Kasambe, 2002) mornings and late evening, since activity of birds and in and around Nanded city (Kulkarni et al., is at its peak during this time. A binocular 2005). (Olympus) was used for observation of the birds Although Tumsar is surrounded by dense and images were captured with the help of a good forest, river, natural water bodies and rice fields quality digital Nikon camera without disturbing

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IJRBAT, Special Issue (2), Vol-V, July 2017 ISSN No. 2347-517X (Online) their natural activities. For identification up to mangroves of Uran cost of Mumbai, Maharashtra species level colour plates of Ali Ripey (1996), and and Chilke (2012) recorded 58 species of birds Grimmett et al. (2001) were used. After belonging to 9 order and 29 families from confirmation of identity of species, status and Bamanwada Lake of Rajura, district Chandrapur. checklist were prepared. Of the recorded bird species (104), 65 species RESULTS AND DISCUSSION were observed as common, 21 species as In the present study, a total of 104 species of bird occasional and 18 species were recorded as rare belonging to 16 order and 42 families were species. Myophonus blighi was recorded as recorded during survey period of six months endangered, Prinia burnesii and Psittacula (October 2016 to March 2017) in Tumsar tahsil of eupatria were recorded under not threaten and Bhandara district of Eastern Maharashtra. Order remaining bird species come under least concern Passeriformes was found to be the most dominant category. order containing 20 families and 57 species The avifaunal diversity of Tumsar tahsil followed by Order Charadriiformes (5 families), comprises of 83 (79.80 %) species residents and Coraciiformes (3 families), Gruiformes (2 families) 21(20.19 %) migrants (winter and summer and remaining 12 order represented by single migrants) (Fig. 2). Migratory bird species recorded family each. Of the 104 recorded bird species, the during present survey are Black-Winged Stilt, highest number of species belonged to family Wood Sandpiper, Purple Heron, Green Bee-eater, Muscicapidae (9 species), followed by Ardeidae Asian Koel, Common Indian Kastrel, Common and Sturnidae (6 species each), Hirudinidae (5 Crane, Blue throat, Thrush Nightingale, species), Accipitridae, Columbidae, Cuculidae, Common Stone Chat, Chestnut- Tailed Starling, Phasianidae, Cisticolidae, Estrildidae, Striated Swallow, Sand Martin, Bran Swallow, Leiothrichidae, and Motacillidae (4 species each), White Wagtail, Western Yellow Wagtail, Richards Charadriidae, Alcedinidae, Nectariniidae, and Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, Blyths Reed Warbler, Psittacidae (3 species each), Rallidae, Alaudidae, Eurasian Golden Oriole and Great Cormorant. Campephagidae, Corvidae, Dicruridae, Laniidae, Wanjari et al. (2013) identified 158 birds’ species Passeridae and Phalacrocoracidae (2 species belonging to 46 families, of which 129 were each) whereas remaining 18 families were found resident, 12 local migrant and 17 were migrants to be represented by single bird species each. (The where as Aggarwal et al. (2015) observed 106 common and scientific names, order, family, and species belonging 52 families during a period of status and family wise abundance of bird species nine months from the Indian Institute of Forest have been given in Table 1 and Fig. 1). Pawar Management (IIFM), Bhopal, which 27 species (2011) recorded 56 species of birds from 11 were recorded as winter visitor. orders, 29 families, and 46 genera from the

Table-1 List of bird species recorded in Tumsar Tahsil of Bhandara District Order Family Scientific Name Common Statu Conservatio Frequency Name s n Status /Abundanc e 1. 1. Accipitridae 1. Accipiter soloensis Horsfie lds R LC O Accipitriforme Goshawk s 2. Accipiter badius Shikra R LC C 3. Elanus caeruleus Black R LC C Shoulder Kite 4. Milvus migrans Black Kite R LC C 2. 2. Bucerotidae 5. Ocyceros birostris Indian Grey R LC O Bucerotiforme Horn bill s 3. 3. Charadriidae 6. Charadrius dubius Little R LC O Charadriiform Ringed e Plover 7. Vanellus Yellow- R LC C malarbaricus wattled Lapwing 8. Vanellus indicus Re d-wattled R LC C Lapwing 4. Jacanidae 9. Metopidius indicus Bronze - R LC O Winged Jacana 5. 10. Himantopus Black- M LC Ra Recurvirostridae himantopus Winged Stilt

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6. Glareolidae 11. Cursorius Indian R LC Ra coromandelicus courser 7. Scolopacidae 12. Tringa glareola Wood M LC Ra Sandpiper 4. 8. Ardeidae 13. Ardeola grayii Indian Pond R LC C Ciciniiormes He ron 14. Ardea purpurea Purple WM LC O He ron 15. Ardea sumatrana Great Billed R LC Ra He ron 16. Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret R LC C 17. Egretta garzetta Little Egret R LC C 18. Egretta intermedia Me dium R LC O Egret 5. 9. Columbidae 19. Columba livia Indian Rock R LC C Columbiforme Pigeon s 20. Streptopelia Indian Ring R LC C decaocto Dove 21. Streptopelia Spotted R LC C chinensis Dove 22. Streptopelia Laughing R LC C senegalensis Dove 6. 10. Alcedinidae 23. Alcedo atthis Common R LC O Coraciformes Kingfishe r 24. Ceryle rudis Pie d R LC Ra Kingfishe r 25. Halcyon smymensis White R LC C bre sted Kingfishe r 11. Coraciidae 26. Coracias Indian R LC C benghalensiaias Roller 12. Meropidae 27. Merops philippinus Green Bee- M LC C eater 7. 13. Cuculidae 28. Cuculus Indian R LC C Cuculiformes micropterus Cuckoo 29. Centropus sinensis Crow R LC C Pheasant 30. Centropus Ce ylon R LC C chlororhynchus Coucal 31. Eudynamys Asian Koel SM LC C scolopacea 8. 14. Falconidae 32. Falco tinnuculus Common M LC O Falconiformes Indian Kastrel 9. Galliformes 15. Phasianidae 33. Gallus gallus Re d Jungle R LC C Fowl 34. Gallus lafayetii Sri Lanka R LC C Jungle Fowl 35. Gallus sonneratii Grey Jungle R LC C Fowl 36. Pavo cristatus Common R LC O Indian Peafowl !0. Gruiformes 16. Gruidae 37. Grus grus Common M LC Ra Crane 17. Rallidae 38. Amanrornis White R LC C phoenicurus bre asted waterhen 39. Gallinula chloropus Common R LC C Moorhen 11. 18. Muscicapidae 40. Ceromela fusca. Brown Rock R LC C Passeriformes Chat 41. Copsychus saularis Oriental R LC C magpie Robin 42. Copsychus White R LC C malabaricus Rumped Chat 43. Luscinia svecica Bluethroat WM LC Ra 44. Luscinia luscinia Thrush M LC Ra Nightingale

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45. Myophonus blighi Shri Lanka R E Ra Whistling 46. Saxicoloides Indian R LC C fulicata Robin 47. Saxicola torquata Common M LC Ra Stone Chat 48. Saxicola caprata Pie d Bush R LC C Chat 19. Sturnidae 49. Acridotheres tristis Common R LC C Myna 50. Acridotheres fuscus Jungle R LC C Myna 51. Acridotheres Bank Myna R LC C ginginianus 52. Sturnus contra Asian Pied R LC C Starling 53. Sturnus pagodarum Brahminy R LC C Starling 54. Sturnus Chestnut- M LC O malabaricus Tailed Starling 20. Hirundinidae 55. Hirundo daurica Striated M LC O Swallow 56. Hirundo smithii Wire -tailed R LC Ra Swallow 57. Hirundo concolor Dusky Crag R LC C Martin 58. Riparia riparia Sand Martin M LC Ra 59. Hirundo rustica Bran M LC O Swallow 21. Cisticolidae 60. Prinia socialis Ashy Prinia R LC C 61. Prinia inornata Plain Prinia R LC C 62. Prinia burnesii Rufous- R NT Ra Vented Prinia 63. Prinia criniger Striated R LC C Prinia 22. Estrildidae 64. Lonchura malbarica White R LC C Throate d Munia 65. Lonchura Scaly R LC C punctulata Breaste d Munia 66. Lonchura malacca Black R LC C headed Munia 67. Amandava Re d Munia R LC C amandava 23. 68. Turdoides caud ates Common R LC C Leiothrichidae Babble r 69. Pellorneum tickelli Buff- R LC O Breaste d Babble r 70. Turdoides striatus Jungle R LC C Babble r 71. Turdoides malcolmi Large Grey R LC C Babble r 24. Motacillidae 72. Motacilla alba White WM LC O Wagtail 73. Motacilla flava We stern WM LC Ra Yellow Wagtail 74. Anthus rufulus Paddy Field R LC C Pipit 75. Anthus richardi Richards WM LC C Pipit 25. Nectariniidae 76. Nectarinia asiatica Purple R LC C Sunbird 77. Nectarinia Copper R LC O calcostetha Throate d Sunbird

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78. Nectarinia zeylonica Purple R LC C rumped Sunbird 26. Alaudidae 79. Mirafra erythroptera Indian Bush R LC C Lark 8o.Ammomanes Rufous- R LC O phoenicurus Tailed Lark 27. 81. Coracina Macei Large R LC O Campephagidae Cuckoo- Shrike 82. Tephrodornis Common R LC Ra pondicerianus Wood Shrike 28. Corvidae 83. Corvus Jungle crow R LC C macrorhynchos 84. Corvus splendens House Crow R LC C 29. Dicruridae 85. Dicrurus Black R LC C macrocercus Drongo 86. Dicrurus Ashy R LC Ra leucophaeus Drongo 30. Laniidae 87. Lanius collurio Re d-backed M LC C Shrike 88. Lanius schach Long-taile d R LC C Shrike 31. Passeridae 89. Passer domesticus House R LC C Sparrow 90. Petronia Yellow R LC O xanthocolli throated s Sparrow 32. 91. Acrocephalus Blyths Reed M LC C Acroccphalidae bistrigiceps Warble r 33. Oriolidae 92. Oriolus oriolus Eurasian SM LC O Golden Oriole 34. Ploceidae 93. Ploceus philippinus Baya weaver R LC C 35. Prunellidae 94. Prunella Robin R LC Ra rubeculoides Acce tor 36. Pycnonotidae 95. Pycnonotus cafer Re d –vented R LC C Bulbul 37. Sylviidae 96.Chrysomma sinense Yellow Eye R LC C Babble r 12. 38. 97.Phalacrocorax niger Little R LC C Peleconiforms Phalacrocoracida Cormorant e 98.Phalacrocorax carbo Great M LC O Cormorant 13. Piciformes 39. Capitonidae 99.Megalaima Coppersmit R LC C haemacephala h Barbet 14. 40. Psittacidae 100. Psittacula Blossom R LC O Psittaciformes cyanocephala Headed Parakeet 101. Psittacula eupatria Ale xanderin R NT O e Parakeet 102. Psittacula krameri Rose Ring R LC C Parakeet 15. 41. Strigidae 103. Athene brama Spotted owl R LC C Strigiformes

16. 42. Upupidae 104. Upapa epops Common R LC C Upepiformes Hoopoe

Status: R- Residential, M- Migratory, WM- Winter Migratory, SM- Summer Migratory. Conservation Status: LC- Least Concern, NT- Not Threatened, E-Endangered. Frequency/Abundance: C- Common, O- Occasional, Ra- Rare.

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