Bird Surveys at Wetlands in Punjab, Pakistan, with Special Reference to the Present Status of White-Headed Duck Oxyura Leucocephala
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FORKTAIL 21 (2005): 43–50 Bird surveys at wetlands in Punjab, Pakistan, with special reference to the present status of White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala ZULFIQAR ALI and MUHAMMAD AKHTAR Numbers of White-headed Ducks in Pakistan have declined substantially since the late 1980s. We surveyed 16 localities from which the species was known historically, and recorded 33 birds at four sites in January–February 2003: Ucchali (22 individuals), Jahlar (two), Nammal (two) and Rawal lake (seven). In total, 118,784 individuals of 149 species were counted at the 16 sites. INTRODUCTION birds is declining (Li and Mundkur 2003, Wetlands International 2002). The global population, which was White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala is considered around 100,000 individuals at the start of twentieth globally Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2004) and century, has decreased to 8,000–13,000 birds in 2002 it is listed on Appendix 1 of the Convention on (BirdLife International 2001, Li and Mundkur 2003). Migratory Species. It occupies a fragmented range The global population declines in the first half of the from Spain and Algeria in the west to Mongolia, twentieth century have been attributed mainly to western China and India in the east (BirdLife habitat loss and over-hunting (Green and Hughes International 2001). The resident North African 1996). The main threats to the Asian population are population (400–600 birds) is stable, the Spanish habitat loss owing to unsustainable use of water population (c.2,500 birds) is increasing, and the East resources and recent droughts, exacerbated by hunting Mediterranean and Asian population of 5,000-10,000 and disturbance (BirdLife International 2001, Li and Figure 1. Historic distribution (1883–2002) of White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala in Pakistan. Squares indicate sites surveyed in 2003. Open squares indicate sites where White-headed Duck was found. Shading indicates the state of Punjab. Site names: 1. Rawal lake; 2. Kailar Kahar lake; 3. Shahpur (Jhelum bridge); 4. Jahlar lake; 5. Khabbaki lake; 6. Ucchali lake; 7. Nammal lake; 8. Rangpur lake; 9. Mianwali (Chashma barrage); 10. Kharar lake; 11. Khangarh lake; 12. Bhawalnagar (Suleimanki headworks); 13. Chalianwala (Mandi Bahauddin); 14. Hafizabad (Qadarabad headworks); 15. Sialkot (Marala headworks); 16. Jassar (River Ravi); 17. Idal Khei Dhand (Kohat); 18. Akora (Kabul river); 19. Mardan; 20. Peshawar; 21. Halkot; 22. Bund Khush Dil Khan (Pishin); 23. Zangi Nawar (Chagai); 24. Sunari lake (Shangar); 25. Nowshera (NWFP) 44 ZULFIQAR ALI and MUHAMMAD AKHTAR Forktail 21 (2005) Table 1. Waterbirds recorded at 16 sites in Punjab, Pakistan. Site Observation points White-headed Duck Other waterbirds Coordinates Altitude (m) of surveyDate (2003) No. Previous max. no. (year) Area (ha) Reduction in area 1990–2003 No. species recorded No. individuals recorded Rawal lake 33o41’E 73o07’N 530 28 Jan 7 6 (1987) 1902 30% 62 3,089 Kallar Kahar lake 32o46’E 72o42’N 641 28 Jan 0 90 (1972) 220 30% 91 1,246 Shahpur (Jehlum bridge) 32o18’E 72o24’N 175 29 Jan 0 5 (1930) 1350 60% 93 1,248 Jahlar lake 32o30’E 72o54’N 824 29 Jan 2 148 (1994) 100 40% 53 370 Khabbaki lake 32o37’E 72o13’N 745 29 Jan 0 1,005 (1968) 283 100% 130 342 Ucchali lake 32o33’E 72o25’N 760 29 Jan 22 667 (1987) 943 60% 103 1,591 Nammal lake 32o41’E 71o48’N 340 29 Jan 2 400 (1970) 486 50% 115 1,726 Rangpur lake 32o10’E 71o50’N 180 30 Jan 0 2 (1993) 1,250 0% 110 9,256 Chashma barrage (Mianwali) 32o31’E 71o29’N 200 30 Jan 0 1 (1922) 33,109 0% 126 71,008 Kharar lake 30o53’E 73o32’N 165 05 Feb 0 700 (1975) 235 100% 23 382 Khangarh lake 29o52’E 71o67’N 100 06 Feb 0 1 (1883) 100 80% 35 257 Sulmanki headworks (Bahawalnagar) 30o22’E 73o52’N 177 7 Feb 0 6 (1922) 1150 70% 85 5,821 Chalianwala 32o37’E 73o38’N 235 19 Feb 0 11 (1931) 23 95% 30 90 Qadirabad headworks (Hafizabad) 32o19’E 73o41’N 211 20 Feb 0 1 (1911) 2,850 20% 101 9,711 Marala headworks (Sialkot) 32o40’E 74o28’N 242 20 Feb 0 1 (1891) 1650 10% 92 8,059 Jassar (River Ravi) 32o31’E 74o59’N 334 21 Feb 0 70 (1987) 1125 70% 91 4,588 Total 33 1,039 (1968) 46,746 51% 149 118,784 Mundkur 2003).These impacts are likely to be exacer- recorded with a Magellan GPS; then the % reduction bated by the effects of global climate change. since 1990 (IUCN 1990) was calculated. In Pakistan, 889 were counted in 1987–1988, but numbers have declined substantially since then, and fewer than 50 have been recorded since 1995–1996 (Chaudhry et al. 1997). Since the late 1980s, White- RESULTS headed Duck have been known to winter in Pakistan only at Ucchali, Khabbaki and Jahlar (known collec- In total, 118,784 individuals of 149 species were tively as Ucchali wetlands complex, a Ramsar site since counted at the 16 sites (Table 1; Appendix 2). 1996). It is not clear, however, whether the lack of Chashma lake, Qadirabad headworks, Rangpur lake, sightings elsewhere is because the birds are absent or Marala headworks, Sulmanki headworks, Jassar (Ravi because of inadequate surveys. river) and Rawal lake had the highest numbers of The goal of this survey, therefore, was to look for individuals. A total of 33 White-headed Ducks were this species and assess its status at the 16 sites in counted at four sites: Ucchali (22 individuals), Jahlar Punjab where it had been recorded since the 1880s: (two), Nammal (two) and Rawal lake (seven). Rawal lake, Kallar Kahar lake, Shahpur (Jehlum The highest numbers of species were at Chashma bridge), Jahlar lake, Khabbaki lake, Uchalli lake, (126 species), Nammal (115), Rangpur (110), and Nammal lake, Rangpur lake, Mianwali (Chashma Ucchali (103) lakes. The ten most abundant species barrage), Kharar lake, Khangarh lake, Bahawalnagar were: Eurasian Coot Fulica atra, Common Pochard (Sulmanki headworks), Chalianwala, Hafizabad Aythya ferina, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Gadwall (Qadrabad headworks), Sialkot (Marala headworks) Anas strepera, Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, and Jassar (River Ravi) (Fig. 1; Appendix 1). Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata,Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus and Red-wattled Lapwing METHODS Vanellus indicus. White-headed Ducks were recorded only at Ucchali, Jahlar, Nammal and Rawal lakes, and were Observations were made, usually for a full day, at each absent from all other sites from which the species was of the 16 sites, between 28 January and 21 February known historically. Many sites had significantly 2003. Up to five points per site were selected from reduced water surface areas compared to data which the whole site could be observed. At each point, presented in IUCN (1990), with an overall reduction birds were counted using a telescope before moving to at all sites combined of 51%. Khabbaki, Kharrar, the next point as rapidly as possible without disturbing Chalianwala and Khangarh had all suffered 80–100% the birds. Birds were identified using Grimmett et al. reductions in area since the 1990 figures. The likely (2001). The surface area of water at each site was causes of these shrinkages include ground water calculated from a map plotted using coordinates extraction, development of barrages and canal systems. Forktail 21 (2005) Bird surveys at wetlands in Punjab, Pakistan 45 RECOMMENDATIONS Chaudhry, A. A., Gill. A. H. and Ali, Z. (1997) Conservation of White- headed Duck in the Salt Range lakes (Ucchali Complex), Punjab, There is an urgent need to ensure the maintenance and Pakistan. Faisalabad: Punjab Wildlife Research Institute. Christison, A. F. P. (1942) Some additional notes on the distribution improvement of the habitat conditions for White- of the avifauna of northern Baluchistan. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. headed Duck at the sites where the species was 43: 478–487. recorded. This will require the government, nature Field, F. F. (1942) Occurrence of the Stiff-tailed Duck at Nowshera, conservation institutions and other agencies to work N.W.F.P. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 42: 445. together collaboratively to conserve the remaining Flemming, W. E. (1930) Occurrence of the Stiff-tailed Duck populations. Specifically: (1) a task-force from govern- (Erismatura leucocephala) in the Shahpur district, Punjab. J. ment and non-government sectors should be Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 34: 577. Green, A. J. and Anstey, S. (1992) The status of the White-headed constituted to study the population dynamics of migra- Duck Oxyura leucocephala. Bird Conserv. Internatn. 2: 185–200. tory waterbirds in these areas; (2) detailed hydrological Green, A. J. and Hughes, B. (1996) Action plan for the White-headed observations of water inflow and outflow, retention Duck Oxyura leucocephala. Pp. 119–146 in B. Heredia, L. Rose capacity, loss through evapotranspiration, manipula- and M. Painter. Globally threatened birds in Europe. Strasbourg: tion of water level, silt load and its impact on Council of Europe. vegetation etc. should be recorded; (3) pollution levels Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. and Inskipp, T. (2001) Pocket guide to the birds of the Indian subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm. should regularly be monitored with a special emphasis IUCN (1990) IUCN directory of South Asian protected areas. on phosphorus and nitrogen cycling, one of the princi- Cambridge, U.K.:World Conservation Monitoring Centre. pal factors responsible for degradation of water quality Jourdain, F. C. R. (1921) White-headed duck shot near Quetta. J. in wetlands; (4) water levels should be managed to Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 27: 954. benefit waterbirds; and (5) some sites should be Koning, F. J. and Walmsley, J.