Science Research Reporter, 4(2):140-145, (Oct. - 2014) © RUT Printer and Publisher (http://jsrr.net) ISSN: 2249-2321 (Print); ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Received: 07-07-2014, Revised: 19-09-2014, Accepted: 22-09-2014e

Full Length Article

Migratory ducks and geese diversity on some the fresh water resources around Yavatmal city, Maharashtra, India: with relation to habitat and feeding habits

Praveen Joshi

Dept. of Zoology, Amolakchand Mahavidyalaya, Yavatmal.445001 [email protected]

ABSTRACT The present study deal with diversity of migratory ducks and geese during the period of Sept. 2013 to March 2014 that arrive in à ecologically rich fresh water bodies namely Borgaondam, Jamwadi dam, Nilona dam, Arjuna dam, Singhandov dam, Echori dam and Khateshwar lake which are around twenty fifteens of Yavatmal city. Total 18 species of ducks (16) and geese (02) belonging to one order (Anseriformes) and two families (Dendrocygnidae, Anatidae) were observed and their population were distributed in BD-12, ND-11, JD-09, AD-08, EL-10, SD-11, KL- 12 which are directly relation to the favorable habitat,feeding habits, availability of Variety of food and protective roosting. Almost all the species are good in numbers on all the fresh water bodies but Some of species like Comb duck, Cotton pigmy goose, Mallard, Ferruginous pochard, Tufted duck, Bar headed geese, Gadwall and Greater Scaup duck were noticed only one or two dams because of some notable reasons, One reason - these fresh water bodies provides an ideal location as a stopover site for particular species, second reason - the large scale interference with the topography of the pond restrict their movements compare to others and the third reason - an ecologically well balanced ecosystem supports fairly wide variety of Macrophytes and other specific food resources.

Key words: Ducks and geese diversity, feeding habits, Habitat, Roosting, Some Fresh water resources.

INTRODUCTION availability avariety offood resources at stopover India is of outstanding international importance for points along the migration route ( Padmavati et al., migratory birds lying on some of the Central Asian 2010) .This gives the migrants a chance to restore Flyway. Large numbers of migrants are attracted theirenergy forcontinuing their cyclic journey. especially during winter by the extensive areas of These fresh water and wetlands fulfill the food water bodies of Indian Subcontinent. Migration is demand and rich habitat requirement of migrants the regular seasonal journey undertaken by the and help to maintain biodiversity globally (Berthold ducks and geese in response to changes in food Peter et al., 2001). But the majority water bodies availability, habitat and extremity of weather have been land filled, polluted, destroyed, altered, (Gupta et al., 2009). Seasonal long distance transformed towards the worse thus threatening migrants are faith to disperse as young birds and the globally significant and already acutely form attachments to potential breeding sites and endangered birds of our world. Unfortunately, to favorite wintering sites. Once the visiting ground many avian diversity wise rich fresh water attachment is made, they show site affinity visiting resources and their wetlands all over the world are the same wintering site year after year. Migration threatened and the species are under pressure successes depends on the abundance and from increasing anthropogenic activities and

http://jsrr.net 140 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Praveen Joshi Socio-economic movements. Conservation ofsuch site.In the various locations, an avian diversitywas habitats is only possible by using details used as in-dictatorsof healthy ecological status in information on existing habitat components and the surrounding environments. the avifauna utilizing it (Deshkar Sonal et al., 2010). This paper highlights the distribution of migratory MATERIALS AND METHODS birds and their habitat relation to food in and The present study has been carried out on fresh around the some water bodies of Yavatmal and the water resources which are located around 25 k.m. utilization of the dams as a potential stopover of Yavatmal city. The details are as follows-

Table-1 Details of Fresh Water Resources around Yavatmal city.

Water resource Source of Water Location Area Utility Value Borgaon dam Streams through hills 780-17’-43’’-200-27’-16’’ 50.82 Pisiculture, irrigation sq.k.m Nilona dam Waghadi River 780-8’-32’’-200-23’-10’’ 46.15 Drinking sq.k.m Jamwadi dam Streams through 770-1’-1/2’’-200-1’-1/4’’ 27.12 Pisiculture, irrigation jungle sq.k.m Arjuna dam Local streams 770-8’-23’’-200-27’-12’’ 24.16 Pisiculture, irrigation sq.k.m Echori lake Many small streams 770-4’-18’’-200-27’-14’’ 16.48 Pisiculture sq.k.m Singhandov dam Local streams 770-58’-8’’, 200-24’-6’’ 41.19 Pisiculture, irrigation sq.k.m Khateshwar lake Drain through jungle 780-20’-46’’, 200-28’-8’’ 10.14 Irrigation sq.k.m

The survey of the migratory ducks and geeseon the booksGrimith and Inskipp (2011) and dam was carried out on weekly basis i.e. one dam BikramGrewal, Bill Harvey and Otto Pfister (2012). every day by field observations throughout the study period from Sept. 2013 to March 2014. The RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ducks and geese on the water bodies, shore as well The study undertaken on selected fresh water as on bushes and trees surrounding of the dams resources. It is proved from Table-2 and Table-3 were observed from safe distance by using a field that diverse varieties of ducks and geese used to binocular (8X40, Olympus made).The Digital come on selected fresh water bodies BD-12, ND-11, Camera Nikon COOLPIX P520 was used for JD-09, AD-08, EL-10, SD-11, KL-12 ( graph-2) which photographs. The habitats have been studied by is also indicates in graph -1 around Yavatmal city of observing surrounding area and shore area relation Maharashtra during Oct. 2013 to mar 2014. The to Macrophytes, other vegetation, types of present study reveals that a total of 18migratory invertebrates including molluscs, crustaceans, species out of which sixteen ducks like Lesser annelids, aquatic bugs, flies, insects, small fishes, Whistling Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, Comb Duck, amphibians and edible thinks which included in the Gadwall, Eurasian wigeon, Mallard, Spot billed feeding habits of the ducks and geese. Duck, Northern shoveler, Northern pintail, Macrophytes were identified with the help of Garganey, Common teal, Red crested pochard, books Cook C. D. K. (1996) and Mandal R.C. (2007), Common pochard, Ferruginous pochard, Tufted Chordates identification with the help of books Duck, Greater scaup Duck and two geese i.e. Bar- Kotpal R L (2010) and invertebrates were identified Headed Goose, Cotton pygmy goose belonging to 1 with the help of books Lal S S (2005). Ducks and order (Anseriformes) and 02 families geese were identified with the help of reference (Dendrocygnidae, Anatidae) were observed Table- 3.

http://jsrr.net 141 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Science Research Reporter, 4(2):140-145, (Oct. - 2014) ISSN: 2249-2321(Print)

Table 2 : Ducks and Geese recorded on fresh water resources.

S. Fresh Number Species Details Species observed only NO. Water Resource Species On one/two dam. Recorded

1 Borgaon Dam (BD) 12 1,2,3,7,9,10,11,13,14,15,17,18 2,17,18 2 Nilona Dam (ND) 11 1,3,6,7,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 6,12 3 Jamwadi Dam (JD) 09 1,3,4,7,9,10,11,13,15 4, 4 Arjuna Dam (AD) 08 1,3,7,9,10,11,13,15 --- 5 Echori Lake (EL) 10 1,3,7,9,10,11,13,15,17,18 17,18 6 Singhondov Dam (SD) 11 1,2,7,8,9,10,11,13,14,15,16 2,8,16 7 Khateshwar Lake(KL) 12 1,3,4,5,6,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 4,6,12

Table 3- Checklist of species, their classification and feeding habits.

S. Order Family Scientific Common Feeding Habits N. Name Name 1 Dendro Dendrocygnaja Lesser They are usually gregarious, feed on aquatic plants, cygnida vanica Whistling Duck small fishes, stages of frog and invertebrates mainly e molluscs and worms. 2 Anserindicus Bar-Headed The diets including grasses, occasionally feeds on Goose crustaceans and invertebrates. On the wetland they prefer aquatic weeds. 3 Tadornaferrugi Ruddy Omnivorous diet consisting of a variety of aquatic and nea Shelduck terrestrial vegetation also including insects, small fish, A A frog and worms. 4 N N Sarkidiornisme Comb Duck Majority food contains Macrophytes like Blue and S A lanotos small yellow water lily seeds, nut grasses, rhizomes. E T They rarely feed on aquatic insects and termites. 5 R I Nettapuscoro Cotton pygmy Feed on seeds and other vegetations of water lilies. I D mandelianus goose Also prefer larvae and pupae usually found under F A rocks. Rarely feed on selective small fishes, snails and O E crabs. 6 R Anasstrepera Gadwall Feeding habits contains aquatic plant materials include M roots, leaves, tubers, buds and seeds .Also including E insects, molluscs, annelids, small amphibians, spawn S and small fishes 7 Anas Penelope Eurasian They are feeding on almost all types of aquatic leaves wigeon and their stems, stolons, bulbils and rhizomes. 8 Anasplatyrhnc Mallard It is omnivorous including, flies, all varieties of aquatic hos plant matter, seeds roots and tubers. 9 Anaspoecilorh Spot billed Feed on plant especially aquatic varieties. yncha Duck 10 Anasclypeata Northern They can feed on a wide variety of tiny insects, shoveler crustaceans, nymph of flies, Fingerlings of small fish, spawn of amphibians and stages of tadpoles. The other food including various aquatic plants. 11 Anasacuta Northern Feeding included mainly aquatic plant material pintail rhizomes, seeds, pond weeds, roots, grain and other seeds of surrounding field areas. 12 Anasquerqued Garganey It feeds on arthropods (mainly insects), molluscs,

http://jsrr.net 142 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) ula annelids, stages of small frogs and tiny fishes. Plant materials include buds, leaves, roots, tubers and seeds of selective aquatic 13 Anascrecca Common teal They largely prefer granivorous diet, feeding on seeds of aquatic plants, including grasses sedges and grains. 14 Rhodonessaruf Red crested They are mostly vegetarian including stems, leaves, ina pochard roots, seeds, buds of aquatic Macrophytes. They also prefer aquatic insects and larvae, tiny fishes, stages of frogs, crustaceans and molluscs. 15 Aythyaferina Common They are mainly vegetarian and feed on rhizomes, pochard buds shoots and seeds of varieties aquatic plants. Sometimes prey on crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic bugs, larvae, worms and occasionally tadpoles and rarely on small fishes. 16 Aythyanyroca Ferruginous Food included Aquatic weeds, molluscs, aquatic bugs pochard and small fishes 17 Aythyafuligula Tufted Duck Food including molluscs, aquatic Macrophytes mainly their seeds, leaves, stems, roots, sedges and aquatic insects. 18 Aythyamarila Greater scaup Feeding on molluscs, aquatic weeds, aquatic bugs, Duck aquatic weeds (mainly pondweeds) seeds, leaves, stems and roots and along with sedges.

Table 4: Abundance of food in the fresh water bodies

Fresh Water Body Habitat Richness relation to Food Borgaon Dam 10 Varieties ofAW-Hv,Cz,Pd,Pc,Ia,Vs,Pa,Nm,Ss, Ec and rich in mention -FA- Sn, Cl, Ab, Pdb, Wb, Dn, Ml, Gh, Fw, Cr, Wm, Sf, Smf and Bf. Nilona Dam 14 Varieties of AW-Hv,Cz,Pd,Pc,Ia,Vs,Pa,Nm,Ss,Ec,Pp,Pc,Lm and Sa were observed. And abundant in food sources–FA- Sn, Cl, Ab, Pdb, Wb, Dn, Ml, Gh, Fw, Cr, Wm, Sf, Smf and Bf. Jamwadi Dam 12 Varieties of AW-Hv,Cz,Pd,Pc,Ia,Vs,Pa,Nm,Ss,Ec,Pp and As were identified.Required food sources were available in plenty amount.–FA- Sn, Cl, Ab, Wb, Dn, Ml, Gh, Fw, Cr, Wm, Sf, Smf and Bf. Arjuna Dam 11 Varieties of -AW-Hv,Cz,Pd,Pc,Ia,Vs,Pa,Nm,Ss,Ec and Nn were foundand ample amount of food was noticed.–FA- Sn, Cl, Ab, Pdb, Wb, Dn, Ml, Gh, Fw, Cr, Wm, Sf, Smf and Bf. Echori Lake 07 Varieties of -AW-Hv,Cz,Pd,Pc,Ia,Nm and Ss were conformed and variety of food was observed. –FA- Sn, Ab,Wb, Dn, Gh, Fw, Cr, Wm, Sf, Smf and Bf. Singhondov Dam 14 Varieties of -AW-Hv,Cz,Pd,Pc,Ia,Vs,Pa,Nm,Ss,Ec,Pp,Pc,Cs and As were noticed and healthy food resources were available –FA- Sn, Cl, Ab, Pdb, Wb, Dn, Ml, Gh, Fw, Cr, Wm, Sf, Smf and Bf. Khateshwar Lake 17 Varieties of -AW-Hy, Pd, Pc, Ia, Vs, Pa, Nm, Cs, Tp, Cz, Lm, Sa, Nn,Ss, Ai, Nno andNi.wereanalyzed and enough quantity of food also noticed-FA- Ab, Pdb, Wb, Dn, Ml, Gh, Fw, Cr, Wm, Sf and Smf . abbreviations are used AW- Aquatic Weeds - Hydrillla verticillata (Hv), Potamogeton diversifolius (Pd), Potamogeton crispus (Pc), Ipomoea aquatic (Ia), Vallisneri aspiralis (Vs), Polygonum amphibium (Pa), Najas minor (Nm), Eleocharis plantoginea (Ep), Cladophora spp.(Cs), Typha spp.(Tp), Chara zeylennica (Cz), Lemna minor (Lm), Scirpus articulates (Sa), Anabaena spp.(As), Elodea Canadensis(Ec), Nelumbo nucifer(Nn) Panicum purpurascens (Pp), Pharagmites communis (Pc) Spirogyra spp.(Ss) Azolla imbricate (Ai), Nymphaea nouchali (Nno), Nympo idesindica(Ni). Food Availability (FA)- Sn- Snails, Cl- Clams, Ab- Aquatic bugs, Pdb-Predaceous diving bettles, Wb-Water bettles, Dn-Dragonfly nymphs, Ml- Midge larvae, Gh-Grasshoppers-, Fw-Flatworms, Cr- Crustaceans, Wm-Worms, Sf- Stages of Frog, Smf-Small fishes and Bf- Big fishes.

http://jsrr.net 143 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Praveen Joshi

Fig. 2L: Ducks and geese recorded at fresh water resources. Number Species Recorded

12 12 11 11 12 10 9 10 8 8 6 4 2 0 Borgaon Dam Nilona Dam Jamwadi Dam Arjuna Dam Echori Lake Singhondov Khateshwar (BD) (ND) (JD) (AD) (EL) Dam (SD) Lake(KL)

The above observations indicate in table-2 and 4 Typha spp., Charazeylennica, Lemna minor, that the water bodies’ supports more or less Scirpus articulates, Anabaena spp., Elodea feeding habits to all 18 migratory species of ducks Canadensis, Nelumbo nucifer, Panicum and geese, they feeding in open water zone are purpurascens, Pharagmites communis, Spirogyra mainly herbivore in nature and depend on aquatic spp., Azolla imbricate, Nymphaea nouchali , flora which are present in ample amount in these Nympoide sindica. Food Availability (FA)- Snails, water bodies but also prepare diverse varieties of Clams, Aquaticbugs, Predaceous diving bettles, fauna their details are also mention in table-4. Water bettles, Dragonfly nymphs, Midge larvae, Some species like Comb duck (Two at Grasshoppers, Flatworms, Crustaceans, Worms, Khateshwar), Cotton pigmy goose (few pairs at Stages of Frog , Small fishes and Big fishes, Khateshwar), Mallard (one Pair at Singhandov), accessibility to food resources and availability of Ferruginous pochard (Single at Nilona), Tufted exposed open spaces and shorelines for roosting. duck(Three pairs at Borgaon and Jamwadi), Bar Every water body provides an ideal location as a headed geese( Borgaon and Singhandov in stopover site to the ducks and waders while its numbers), Gadwall (Nilona and Khateshwar few surrounding area to the arboreal migrants like pairs) and Greater Scaup duck (One pair at Echori) waders. Since the habitat choice of birds is highly were noticed only one or two places because of specific and driven by plant communities and some reasons, One reason - these fresh water faunal variations for the various blocks fixed at bodies provides an ideal location as a stopover site different habitat which could be reflecting different for particular species, second reason - the large levels of habitat degradation. The repeated scale interference with the topography of the pond observation conforms that the excessive growth of restrict their movements and the third reason - an Macrophytes in some of the water bodies caused ecologically well balanced ecosystem supports serious problems to water quality, food resources fairly wide variety of Macrophytes and other and availability of exposed wetland and shorelines specific food resources. The occurrences of large for roosting of ducks and geese. Increasing number of migratory ducks and geese population anthropogenic activities are causing disturbances at mention water bodies (table-2, graph-2) for to habitat and may lead to the destruction of this feeding, resting and roosting is due to the valuable stopover if not managed properly. The abundance of food such as Macrophytes (table-4) datais enough for to trigger the authority to take i.e. Hydrillla verticillata, Potamogeton diversifolius, urgent steps to ensure conservation of fresh water Potamogeton Crispus, Ipomoea aquatica, bodies and it automatically increasing the number Vallisneria spiralis, Polygonum amphibium, Najas of migratory ducks and geese diversity in these minor, Eleocharis plantoginea, Cladophora spp., areas.

http://jsrr.net 144 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Science Research Reporter, 4(2):140-145, (Oct. - 2014) ISSN: 2249-2321(Print) REFERENCES Hutchinson GE, 1993. A Treatise on Limnology.Vol. Berthold Peter, Hans-Gunther Bauer, Valerie IV, the Zoobenthos.Ed. Y.H. Edmondson.John Wiley Westhead, 2001. Bird Migration: A general & Sons, Inc. Xx, 944pp. survey:Oxford University Press .ISBN 0198507879 . Kodarkar MS, 1992. Methodology for water Chhetry DT, 2006. Nature 4: 91-95. analysis, IAAB Vol.No-(2):2-16. Deshkar Sonal, Jagruti Rathod and Geeta Padate, Kotpal RL ,2010. Modern Text Book of Zoology: 2010. Avifaunal diversity and water quality Vertebrates.GlobalMediaPublications, 2010 - analysis of an inland wetland. Journal of Wetland Biodiversity - 864 pages. ecology, 4:1-32. Kotpal RL, 2012. Modern Text Book of Zoology, Dayananda GY, 2009. Our Nature 7: 100-109. Invertebrates. Rastogi Publications 2012 - Giri B andChalise MK, 2008. Seasonal diversity and Biodiversity - 883 pages. population status of Waterbirds in Phewa lake, Kumar P, Gupta SK, 2009. Our Nature, 7:212- 217. Pokhara, Nepal. Journal of Wetlands ecology, Kurup DN, 1991. Migrant shore birds in estuarine 1(1/2):3-7. habitats with special reference to Kadalundi and Gupta RC, Kaushik TK and Kumar S, 2009. Analysis Bharathapuzha estuaries.In Proceedings of the of winter migratory Wetland Birds in Karnal district third Kerala Science Congress, Feb-March, 1991, in Haryana. Journal of Advanced Zoology, 30 Kozhikode. pp. 31-32. (2):104-117. Lal SS, 2005. Practical Zoology Invertibrate,Rajpal Gupta RC and Kaushik TK, 2010. Determination of And Sons Publishing,386 pages. the domain of spectrum concerning diversity of Lloyd E, 2003. The Encyclopedia of Insects. endangered winter visitor wetland birds in Academic Press. pp. 115–120. Haryana. Journal of Experimental Zoology, 13 Manakadan R and Pittie A, 2001. Standardized (2):349-354. common and scientific Names of the birds of the Ghose KC and Manna B, 2007. Practical Zoology, Indian subcontinent. Bucero, 6(1) 1-37. New Central Book Agency (P) Limited, 2007 - Mandal RC, 2007. Weed, weedicide and weed Biological Sciences - 481 pages. control. Agrobios.128-154. Grewal B, 2000. Birds of the Indian subcontinent. Murphy KJ, 1988. Aquatic weed problems and their Local colour limited, Hongkong.213 pp. management, a review.The worldwide scale of the Grewal B, Harvey B, Pfister O, 2011. Birds of aquatic weed problem. Crop Prot. 7: 232-234. India.Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.512 pp. Padmavati A, Alexandar R, Anbarashan M, 2010. Grimmet R, Inskipp C, Inskipp T,1999. Oxford Our Nature 8: 247-253. University Press, Delhi. Surana R, Subba BR, Limbu KP, 2007. Our Nature, 5: 75-80.

How to Cite this Article: Praveen Joshi, 2014. Migratory ducks and geese diversity on some the fresh water resources around Yavatmal city, Maharashtra, India: with relation to habitat and feeding habits. Sci. Res. Rept., 4(2):140-145.

http://jsrr.net 145 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online)