Dwevedi et al.: Heronries of Mathura District 93

Heronries of Mathura District, western Uttar Pradesh, India Rajneesh Dwevedi, Sandeep K. Singh & Vinoy Krishna

Dwevedi, R., Singh, S. K., & Krishna, V., 2014. Heronries of Mathura District, western Uttar Pradesh, India. Indian BIRDS 9 (4): 93–95. Rajneesh Dwevedi, Department of Life Sciences, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110002, India. Email: [email protected] [RD] Sandeep K. Singh, Department of Zoology, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India. [SKS] Vinoy Krishna, Department of Life Sciences, Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi, Delhi 110002, India. [VK] Manuscript received on 27 February 2014.

Abstract Five heronries were identified in Mathura district, U.P., India. Govardhan is a lost heronry, while there is lack of information on Mathura-Tangalle. Khanpur, Chhata and Mathura Oil Refinery are active heronries, each supporting more than five breeding species. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, and Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus are the species of conservation importance. Keoladeo National Park is a closely located large heronry and is possibly the source population in fluctuating season for the heronries of Mathura. There has been a lack of systematic surveys in the region; however, recent findings of heronries in the region are a good sign for further exploration. Mathura is undergoing rapid urbanisation that threatens the existence of heronries. Heronries of Mathura need long-term scientific monitoring and local participation to achieve objectives of conservation.

Introduction Mathura district has an agriculture dominated landscape, and Wetlands in an agriculture-dominated landscape are known to is known to have heronries in the past (Subramanya 1996), but support high bird diversity (Sundar & Subramanya 2010; Sundar there has never been a systematic survey for heronries in the 2011). Besides supporting bird populations these wetlands region. In this paper we review the current status of heronries also provide ecosystem services in the form of cattle grazing, based on past and recent studies. harvest of multiple wetland products (e.g., reeds, fish, silt, etc.), Study area & methodology and water for agricultural and domestic purposes (Sundar & Kittur 2013). These wetlands support non-breeding as well as Mathura (27°41’N, 77°41’E) is situated in the semi-arid region breeding populations of waterbirds, including those that form of western Uttar Pradesh (Fig 1). It is located on the banks of River heronries, such as Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Asian Yamuna. Heronries, reported till date, from this region, were visited Openbill Anastomus oscitans, and Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis to examine whether they still held active breeding bird populations. melanocephalus (Dwevedi & Urfi 2011). Heronry birds are Heronries were located with the help of description provided flagship species and good indicators of the health of the wetland in the literature. If the location was not clear from literature, ecosystem (Kushlan 1993; Frederick et al. 2009). Monitoring of local people were asked about the presence of any heronries heronry birds, hence, is useful in understanding the impact of in the region. All such heronries were visited between October pollution on the wetlands of agriculture-dominated landscapes, 2013 and January 2014. Based on the response of local people, and patterns of climate (Urfi 2010, 2011). heronries were classified either as lost, or active. A heronry was

Fig. 1. Heronries of Mathura, India. 94 Indian Birds Vol. 9 No. 4 (Publ. 20 May 2014)

considered lost only if there was absence of nesting for five years. historically, or in recent years. Species composition at each Habitat type, nesting tree species, and a list of nesting species heronry varied (Table 1). Species composition of three active at each heronry were recorded. Habitat types were categorised heronries is of mixed type. under industrial, rural, or urban. Species were identified in the Among the heronries that could not be located using literature field using Grimmettet al. (1999). A species was recorded as alone, Govardhan was a mono-specific colony of Painted Storks, nesting only if an active nest was observed. Active nest was while Mathura-Tangalle was a mixed heronry comprising nests identified with the presence of incubating adults, or juveniles/ of Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Eurasian eggs. spoonbill Plateola leucorodia, pelicans (Pelecanidae), herons and egrets (Ardeidae). Results Khanpur and Chhata, each had six species nesting (Table 1). However both heronries were slightly different in Heronry status species composition. Painted Stork was the dominant species in Khanpur and had the maximum number of nests—27. Except A total of five heronries were identified in Mathura District Painted Stork, which nested on island of mesquite trees, other (Table 1). Among them Govardhan is now considered lost. This species were nesting at the periphery of the pond in Khanpur. herony was the oldest on record, described by Hume & Oates Chhata supports three Near Threatened species, Oriental (1890). There has been no report on this colony since, nor did Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Painted Stork, and Black-headed we find any evidence about its existence. The Mathura-Tangalle Ibis. Asian Openbill and Oriental Darter were observed nesting heronry (Hume & Oates 1890) could not be discovered because only in Chhata. All species nested together on large island of of the lack of a clear description. This heronry was purportedly mesquite trees except Grey Heron, which nested separately on a located halfway between Mathura and Tangalle, in a large lake small island of mesquite trees. inhabited with ‘alligators,’ (Hume & Oates 1890: p. 242). Only three heronries were found to be active. Each heronry supported a large number of nests. Information from local Discussion inhabitants of the region revealed that Khanpur is the youngest Extinction and formation of heronries is a continuous process heronry, and is approximately a decade old. Chhata is the largest (Frederick & Mayer 2008). However, there are very few studies to heronry, and has been in existence for more than 100 years. conclude on extinction, formation, and current status of heronries Detailed information on Mathura Oil Refinery (MOR) heronry was of Mathura. There has been lack of systematic surveys in these not available due to inaccessibility. We can only ascertain the regions (Subramanya 1996) and a complete list of heronries is active nature of MOR heronry through literature (Pisharoty 2011). not available. Few heronries might have been missed because of their sporadic nature, i.e., these heronries are not formed Colony characteristics regularly. Recent discovery of two heronries is good sign to focus on further exploration of the region. Information on the five heronries shows considerable variations Heronry-nesting birds are known to travel long distances for in their character (Table 1). The colonies fall broadly under food and breeding habitat (del Hoyo et al. 1992). It is possible the following categories. (1) heronries in pond of industrial that these heronries are linked to each other, especially when area, Mathura Oil Refinery, (2) heronries on larger trees Ficus( they are closely located. Keoladeo National Park is known for its and Bombax species) in the vicinity of village ponds such as large heronry. It has experienced fluctuating rainfall in the past Govardhan and Mathura-Tangalle, and (3) heronries on island of decade and, possibly, is the source of heronries of Mathura. But to mesquite trees Prosopis juliflora in the village ponds of Khanpur ascertain these facts heronries in the region require continuous, and Chhata. scientific, and long-term monitoring. Heronries of Mathura have breeding population of birds of Species composition conservation importance. Several of them are Near Threatened Ten species, from six families, were recorded nesting either such as Painted Stork, Oriental Darter and Black-headed Ibis

Table 1: Details of Heronries of Mathura, India. S Village / First Current Heronry Cordinates Type Area Nesting Substrate Reference No. Area Report status Species 27º30’N Tamarindus indica, Ficus religiosa, 1 Govardhan 1890 Lost Pond Rural PS Hume & Oates 1890 77º28’E Bombax malbaricum, Ulmus sp. 2 Mathura–Tangalle Not Aailable 1890 Unknown Pond Rural NA Herons, Pelican, BNH, ES Hume & Oates 1890

27º42’N B. B. Sharma 3 Khanpur 2013 Active Pond Rural Prosopis juliflora PS, GH, LE, BHI, LC, BNH 77º29’E pers. comm. 27º44’N 4 Chhata 2011 Active Pond Rural Prosopis juliflora PS, BHI, OD, GH, LC, OBS Dwevedi & Urfi 2011 77º31’E

Mathura 22º23’N PS, ES, Egrets, Islam et al. 1999; 5 1999 Active Pond Industrial NA Oil Refinery (MOR) 77º41’E Cormorants, Herons Pisharoty 2011

Abbrevations: BHI: Black-headed Ibis; BNH: Black-crowned Night Heron; ES: Eurasian Spoonbill; GH: Grey Heron; LC: Little Cormorant; LE: Little Egret; OBS: Asian Openbill; OD: Oriental Darter; PS: Painted Stork. Thaker & Vyas: Black-necked Stork 95

(BirdLife International 2014). These heronries lie outside Frederick, P., Gawlik, D. E., Ogden, J. C., Cook, M. I., & Lusk, M., 2009. The White Ibis and protected areas and are closely associated with the human Wood Stork as indicators for restoration of the everglades ecosystem. Ecological population. Indicators 9 (S): S83–S95. Although there is lack of awareness among the local people, Frederick, P. C., & Meyer, K. D., 2008. Longevity and size of Wood stork (Mycteria americana) colonies in Florida as guides for an effective monitoring strategy in they usually do not harm a heronry directly. Instead, habitat Southeastern United States. Waterbirds 31 (Special publication 1): 12–18. deterioration through sewer discharge, encroachment, and Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., & Inskipp, T., 1999. Pocket guide to the birds of the Indian eutrophication are the primary threats (Dwevedi & Urfi 2011). Subcontinent. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Pp. 1–384. Hence, preservation of heronries needs an integrative approach Hume, A. O., 1890. The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds. 2nd ed. London: R.H. Porter. with the participation of all the stakeholders. Active participation Vol. III of 3 vols. Pp. i–ix, 1–461. of locals in long term monitoring and creating awareness will Islam, Z.-u., Ugra, G., Rahmani, A. R., & Prakash, V., 1999. An illustrated guide to the improve the chances of heronries to remain protected and the birds of Mathura Refinery. Mumbai: Bombay Natural History Society; Indian Oil birds they harbour, to be conserved. Corporation Limited. Kushlan, J. A., 1993. Colonial waterbirds as bioindicators of environmental change. Colonial waterbirds. 16 (2): 223–251. Acknowledgements Pisharoty, S. B., 2011. Green, green plants. The Hindu. Published on 16 June 2011. Subramanya, S., 1996. Distribution, status and conservation of Indian heronries. Journal RD acknowledges the training skills inparted by his teacher A. J. Urfi, which helped of the Bombay Natural History Society 93 (3): 459–486. immensely in carrying out the study. We acknowledge the help of Virat and Aniket Sundar, K. S. G., 2011. Agricultural intensification, rainfall patterns, and large waterbird Kumar, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, for their breeding success in the extensively cultivated landscape of Uttar Pradesh, India. comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. RD would like to especially thank Biological Conservation 144: 3055–3063. Mukesh, a farmer of Chhata, for his support in field work and hospitality. Sundar, K. S. G., & Kittur, S., 2013. Can wetlands maintained for human use also help conserve biodiversity? Landscape-scale patterns of bird use of wetlands in an References agricultural landscape in north India. Biological Conservation 168: 49–56. Sundar, K. S. G., & Subramanya, S., 2010. Bird use of rice fields in the Indian Subcontinent. BirdLife International 2014. IUCN Red List for birds. Website: http://www.birdlife.org, Waterbirds 33 (Spl): 44–70. [Accessed on 31 January 2014]. Urfi, A. J., 2010. Using heronry birds to monitor urbanization impacts: A case del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., (eds.) 1992. Handbook of the birds of the world. study of Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala nesting in the Delhi Zoo, India. Volume 1. Ostrich to Ducks. 1st ed. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. Vol. 1 of 17 vols.: Ambio 39 (2): 190–193. Pp. 1–696. Urfi, A. J., 2011. Climate change and its impacts on Indian birds: monsoon phenology Dwevedi, R., & Urfi, A. J., 2012. Discovery of a large heronry at Chhata, near Mathura, and monitoring heronry birds. Current Science 101 (9): 1140–1142. in western Uttar Pradesh. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 108 (3): 231–232 (2011).

Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus feeding on Indian flap-shell turtle Lisseymys punctata Manoj Thaker & Raju Vyas

Thaker, M., & Vyas, R., 2014. Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus feeding on Indian flap-shell turtle Lisseymys punctata. Indian BIRDS 9 (4): 95–96. Manoj Thaker, 52/C Divyajyot Society, Near Akashvani, Makarpura Road, Vadodara 390009, Gujarat, India. Email: [email protected] [MT] Raju Vyas, 505, Krishnadeep Tower, Mission Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara 300002, Gujarat, India Email: [email protected] [RV] Manuscript received on 08 December 2013.

n 06 January 2013 we visited Wadhavana Reservoir basis of the rich diversity of migratory birds during winter, and (22°10’N, 73°29’E) for bird watching, and to assess also a stable abode for many local birds, and reptiles. Othe status of winter migratory bird species. During the The Black-necked Stork is one of the large storks (Ciconiidae), visit we came across an interesting sight of a Black-necked Stork and is a globally Near Threatened species (BirdLife International Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus feeding on a turtle in the evening 2014). Two races are recognised, E. a. asiaticus and E. a. australis: hours. MT was able to click few photographic evidences of the the former widely distributed in South and Southeast Asia, the actions [124]. latter having a disjunct population in southern New Guinea, and Wadhavana Reservoir (Dabhoi tehsil, Vadodara District, Australia. The Black-necked Stork feeds characteristically while Gujarat) is spread over an area of 11.2 km2. It is a century-old wading in shallow water pools. It feeds on various species of (1909–1910) man-made earthen dam, constructed by Shrimaan aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates (Hancock at al. 1992). Maharaja Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad III of the erstwhile State of It is a known obligate carnivore with a diet including water Baroda. Its waters are mainly used for irrigation, but it is also one birds (Breeden & Breeden 1982; Verma 2003; Ishtiaq et al. of the important wetlands for birds in Gujarat. In 2004, the Union 2004), fish, amphibians, and reptiles (Sundar & Kaur 2001; Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Forest Department Maheswaran & Rahmani 2002; Sundar 2011). In Australia, the of Gujarat declared it a Nationally Important Wetland, on the Black-necked Stork is known to occasionally feed on marine