ENVIS Newsletter on wetland ecosystems including inland wetlands Sarovar Saurabh Vol.11(3), 2015 ISSN: 0972-3153

Editor in Chief Dr. P.A. Azeez Director - SACON & ENVIS Head Contents

ENVIS and Editorial Team 1. Birds of the Vellode Bird Sanctuary pg. 1-5 Dr. Goldin Quadros - ENVIS Co-ordinator Dr. B. Hemambika 2. Distribution of Avian Fauna along the Western Ghats Ms. A. Julffia Begam (Kolhapur); a basic GIS approach pg. 6-9 Mr. A. Srinivasan 3. Newspaper Article pg. 10 Layout & Design Ms. A. Julffia Begam

Published by Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Views expressed in the articles of this newsletter are of Anaikatty (P.O.), Coimbatore-641108, the authors only. Tamil Nadu, India.

Sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change Government of India, New Delhi.

From the Editors desk

For time immemorial, Wetlands have provided sustenance to humans, not to talk about a large array of other life forms. Conservation of these singular ecosystems is crucial for welfare and long-term sustenance of humans. Recognizing the importance of such aquatic ecosystems, the government of India has identified several aquatic ecosystems for enhanced protection. Recently the government has declared Thane creek near Mumbai in Maharashtra as a flamingo sanctuary. The creek, despite being located amidst perhaps the most happening metropolis in the country, has over 200 species of birds - an excellent model to explore the changes in the system against intense urbanization. SACON has recently taken up a study on the creek supported by the Mangrove Cell, Mumbai. The study, apart from documenting the changes, possibly would bring out information on species adaptions and avoidances. The ENVIS team here has been putting in efforts to bring out diverse issues relating to wetlands and they are receiving support from different sectors in bringing to light the little known concerns or facts on wetlands. In this edition of ENVIS Newsletter, we bring to you articles on birds and their adaptations around some other wetlands. We are grateful to our reviewers for their time spent on the articles. We are happy with the large number of queries and website visits that keeps us motivated in popularizing uniqueness of the wetlands and the need for their conservation.

We solicit your views and news; that would certainly encourage us to improve. P A Azeez Birds of the Vellode Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu P. Balasubramanian*, S. Silambarasan and P. Manikandan

Division of Landscape Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty PO, Coimbatore 641 108

Abstract thrive in the waterlogged areas. Profuse growth of A study was conducted at Vellode Bird Sanctuary in Erode Prosopis juliflora is seen all along the bunds. The Sanctuary District of Tamil Nadu to assess the avifaunal diversity. A forms an ideal habitat for the birds, because of the total of 98 bird species belonging to 84 genera, 47 families availability of abundant food (benthos and fish) in the tank and 16 orders were recorded during the study which and in the neighbouring agricultural fields and plenty of trees for perching and nesting. The temperature ranges include 59 species of land birds and 39 species of water o o birds. Among the birds, family Ardeidae (herons and from maximum of 38 C in summer to a minimum of 19 C egrets) dominated with eight species. Cattle Egret in the winter. The sanctuary receives rainfall from the (1885.25±1067.59) followed by Spot-billed Duck Northeast monsoon between September and December. ( 1 7 4 0 . 2 5 ± 7 1 2 . 0 1 9 ) a n d L i t t l e C o r m o r a n t The Sanctuary is visited by large number of resident and (1665.75±907.624) were found to be the most abundant migratory bird species. species in the sanctuary. Total number of species recorded Methodology was 111, with the addition of 13 species during a later visit The study was carried out from February to May 2014. to the Sanctuary. Total count method was used to census the birds (Bibby et Introduction al., 1992). Twice in a week, census was carried during Wetlands of tropical and subtropical areas are considered morning hours (6-8 hrs). Observations were carried out to be rich centres of avifauna which are under immense with the aid of 8 x 40 binoculars. The birds were identified human pressure on the maintenance and protection of by their characteristic features in accordance with standard biodiversity (Kumar, 2003). Water birds are an important identification manuals and field guides Ali & Ripley (1983), component of the wetland ecosystems as they occupy Grimmet, et al., (1999) and Ali (2002). Bird species nesting several trophic levels in the food web of wetland nutrient during the study period were noted. After the completion cycles (Custer and Osborne, 1977). In Tamil Nadu, 13 of the study, 13 more bird species were recorded during a sanctuaries have been created exclusively for the visit and included in Table 2. conservation of birds. These bird sanctuaries harbour Results and Discussion hundreds of bird species which use them as roosting, During the study period, a total of 98 bird species foraging and nesting ground (Abhisheka et al., 2013; belonging to 84 genera, 47 families and 16 orders were Gokula, 2013; Gupta et al., 2011; Johnson, 1971; Johnson, recorded (Table 1). Of these, terrestrial birds were 2000; Krishnan, 1993; Kumar, 1980; Ramamurthy and represented by 59 species of 54 genera and 34 families and Rajakumar 2014; Raj et al., 2010; Santharaman and Menon, water birds constituted 39 species of 30 genera and 13 1990). The bird species diversity and abundance of the families. Out of the 47 families, Ardeidae (8 species- Vellode Bird Sanctuary has been least studied. Hence, to herons & egrets) constituted the most dominant family. assess the avifaunal diversity and abundance of this lesser Of the total 98 bird species, 81 were residents, and 19 known Sanctuary, the present study was carried out. migrants. Cattle Egret (1885.25±1067.59) followed by Study Area Spot-billed Duck (1740.25±712.019) and Little The study was carried out in Vellode Bird Sanctuary Cormorant (1665.75±907.624) were found to be the most (11o14'03.84” N and 76o39'31.09” E), Erode District of abundant species in the sanctuary (Table 1). Other Tamil Nadu which extends to an area of 77.18 ha. It is abundantly occurring water birds include Common Coot, located about 12km from Erode city. The Sanctuary is a Black-crowned Night Heron and Little Egret. Rosy storage tank which was planted with Acacia nilotica trees. Starling, a migratory terrestrial bird species was also seen Although Singapore Cherry, Muntingia calabura is also in large numbers. found along the edges of the water, they are unable to SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.11(3), 2015. ISSN: 0972-3153 1

Feeding IUCN Migrant S. No Bird Name Scientific Name Mean±SE Guild status Status S. No Bird Name Scientific Name Feeding Guild IUCN status Mean±SE Migrant Status ANSERIFORMS 1 Podicipetidae Tachybaptus ruficollis P LC 228.75±102.58 R ANSERIFORMS Little Grebe 1 Podicipetidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis P LC 228.75±102.58 R Anatidae

2 Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha P LC 1740.25±712.02 RM 2 Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha P LC 1740.25±712.02 RM 3 Anatidae Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata P LC 162.666±92.85 WM S. No Bird Name Scientific3 Nor Namethern Shoveller FeedingAnas Guild clypeata IUCN status PMean±SE LC 162.666±92.85Migrant Status WM ANSERIFORMS 4 Garganey Anas querquedula P LC 94±61 WM 4 Garganey Anas querquedula P LC 94±61 WM PELECANIFORMES Podicipetidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis PELECANIFORMES P LC 228.75±102.58 R Pelecanidae 5 Pelecanidae Pelecanus philippensis P NT 654.5±316.13 WM 5 Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis P NT 654.5±316.13 WM Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Spot-billed Pelican P LC 1740.25±712.02 RM SULIFORMES SULIFORMES Anatidae Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata P LC 162.666±92.85 WM 6 Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger P LC 1665.75±907.62 R 6 Phalacrocoracidae Phalacrocorax niger P LC 1665.75±907.62 R Garganey Anas querquedula Little Cormorant P LC 94±61 WM 7 Phalacrocoracidae Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo P LC 447.25±291.8 R

PELECANIFORMES 7 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo P LC 447.25±291.8 R 8 Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis P LC 272±131 WM CICONIIFORMS Pelecanidae Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis8 Indian Shag PPhalacr ocorax fuscicollisNT 654.5±316.13P LC 272±131WM WM 9 Anhingidae Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster P NT 84.75±48.11 R SULIFORMES CICONIIFORMS 9 Anhingidae Anhinga melanogaster P NT 84.75±48.11 R 10 Little Egret Egretta garzetta P LC 550.25±258.39 R Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger Oriental Darter P LC 1665.75±907.62 R 11 Larg e Egret Casmerodius albus P LC 181±21.54 R Ardeidae 10 Egretta garzetta P LC 550.25±258.39 R Phalacrocoracidae Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Little Egret P LC 447.25±291.8 R 12 Median Egret Mesophoyx intermedia P LC 305±104.28 R 13 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis P LC 1885.25±1067.59 R Indian Shag Phalacrocorax11 fuscicollis Larg e Egret PCasmer odius albus LC 272±131P LC 181±21.54WM R Ardeidae 14 Grey Heron Ardea ciner ea P LC 428.25±167.3 R CICONIIFORMS 12 Median Egret Mesophoyx intermedia P LC 305±104.28 R 15 Pur ple Heron Ardea purpurea P LC 39.75±11.67 R Anhingidae 13 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis P LC 1885.25±1067.59 R Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster P NT 84.75±48.11 R 16 Indian Pond -Heron Ardeola grayii P LC 271.75±190.5 R

Little Egret Egretta garzetta14 Grey Heron PArdea cinerea LC 550.25±258.39P LC 428.25±167.3R R 17 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax P LC 574±194.87 R

Large Egret Casmerodius15 albus Purple Heron PArdea purpurea LC 181±21.54P LC 39.75±11.67R R 18 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala P NT 135±77.686 WM Ciconiidae 19 Asian Openbill-Stork Anastomus oscitans P LC 24.5±20.5 WM Median Egret Mesophoyx inter16 media Indian Pond-Heron PArdeola grayii LC 305±104.28P LC 271.75±190.5R R 20 Wooly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus P V 6.5±0.5 WM Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis17 Black-crowned Night Heron PNy cticorax nycticorax LC 1885.25±1067.59P 574±194.87R R Ardeidae LC 21 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus P LC 18.5±3.5 R Ciconiidae Grey Heron Ardea cinerea P LC 428.25±167.3 R 22 Threskiornithidae Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanoce phalus P NT 157±85.64 R 18 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala P NT 135±77.686 WM 23 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia P LC 107.66±83.23 R Purple Heron Ardea purpur19ea Asian Openbill-Stork PAnastomus oscitans LC 39.75±11.67P LC 24.5±20.5R WM FALCONIFORMES Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii20 Wooly-necked Stork PCiconia episcopus LC 271.75±190.5P V 6.5±0.5 R WM 24 Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus C LC 7±2.88 R Threskiornithidae Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax ny21cticorax PPle gadis falcinellus LC 574±194.87P LC 18.5±3.5 R R 25 Black-wing ed Kite Elanus caeruleus C LC 15±9 R Glossy Ibis Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala P NT 135±77.686 WM 26 Accipitridae Black Kite Milvus migrans C LC 26.5±12.28 R 22 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus P NT 157±85.64 R Ciconiidae Asian Openbill-Stork Anastomus oscitans P LC 24.5±20.5 WM 27 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus C LC 22.25±8.87 R 23 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia P LC 107.66±83.23 R Wooly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus P V 6.5±0.5 WM 28 Shikra Accipiter badius C LC 9±3.21 R FALCONIFORMES GALLIFORMES Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus24 Accipitridae PP ernis ptilorhyncus LC 18.5±3.5C LC 7±2.88 R R Oriental Honey-buzzard 29 Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus O LC 95±84.49 R Threskiornithidae Phasianidae Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis25 melanoce phalusBlack -winged Kite PElanus caeruleus NT 157±85.64C LC 15±9 R R 30 Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus O LC 160±55.75 R

Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucor26odia Black Kite PMilvus migrans LC 107.66±83.23C LC 26.5±12.2R8 R GRUCIFORMES FALCONIFORMES 31 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicur us O LC 47.25±19 R 27 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus C LC 22.25±8.87 R 32 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio O LC 455.5±187.23 R Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorh28yncus Shikra CAccipiter badius LC 7±2.88C LC 9±3.21 R R Rallidae 33 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus O LC 263.25±143.4 R Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus GALLIFORMES C LC 15±9 R 34 Common Coot Fulica atra O LC 1263.5±588.8 R Accipitridae 29 Phasianidae Francolinus pondicerianus O LC 95±84.49 R Black Kite Milvus migrans Grey Francolin C LC 26.5±12.28 R CHARADRIIFORMES Jacanidae Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus30 Indian Peafowl CP avo cristatus LC 22.25±8.87O LC 160±55.75R R 35 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus I LC 9±1 RM Charadriidae Shikra Accipiter badius GRUCIFORMES C LC 9±3.21 R 36 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus I LC 78.5±25.79 R 31 Rallidae Amaurornis phoenicurus O LC 47.25±19 R 37 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus I LC 58.5±9.5 WM GALLIFORMES White-breasted Waterhen 38 Scolopacidae Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola I LC 24.5±17.5 WM Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus32 Pur ple Swamphen OP orphyrio porphLCyrio 95±84.49O LC 455.5±187.23R R Phasianidae 39 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos I LC 116±53.485 R 33 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus O LC 263.25±143.4 R Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus O LC 160±55.75 R 40 Recurvirostridae Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus I LC 106.5±45.32 R 34 Common Coot Fulica atra O LC 1263.5±588.8 R COLUMBIFORMES CHARADRIIFORMES 41 Rock Pigeon Columba livia G LC 94.5±37.07 R 35 Jacanidae Hydrophasianus chirurgus I LC 9±1 RM 42 Columbidae Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis G LC 65±20.60 R Pheasant-tailed Jacana 36 Charadriidae Vanellus indicus I LC 78.5±25.79 R 43 Eurasian Collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto G LC 32±14.52 R Red-wattled Lapwing PSITT ACIFORMES 44 Psittacidae Rose-ringed P arakeet Psittacula krameri F LC 112.75±29.86 R 2 SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.11(3), 2015. ISSN: 0972-3153

S. No Bird Name Scientific Name Feeding Guild IUCN status Mean±SE Migrant Status CUCULIFORMES 45 Pied-crested Cuc koo Clamator jacobinus I LC 21±5.96 R 46 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea F LC 59.75±19.86 R 47 Cuculidae Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis I LC 42±10.96 R

48 Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris I LC 24±10.73 R 49 Common Hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx varius I LC 13.25±9.06 RM STRIGIFORMES 50 Common Barn Owl Tyto alba C LC 9.5±3.12 R Strigidae 51 Spotted Owlet Athene brama C LC 35.25±12.04 R APODIFORMES 52 Asian Palm-swift Cypsiurus balasiensis I LC 71.25±26.41 R Apodidae 53 Little Swift Apus affinis I LC 52±46.03 R CORACIIFORMES 54 Coraciidae Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis I LC 30.5±12.9 R 55 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis P LC 14.75±4.55 R 56 Alcedinidae White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis P LC 33±16.22 R 57 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis P LC 30.333±7.83 R 58 Asian Green Bee -eater Merops orientalis I LC 47±14.93 R Meropidae 59 Blue-tailed Bee -eater Merops philippinus I LC 133.5±11.5 WM 60 Upupidae Common Hoopoe Upupa epops I LC 36±19.70 R

PICIFORMES 61 Capitonidae Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala F LC 16.75±7.0 R Picidae 62 Black-rumped Falmeback Dinopium benghalense I LC 18.333±2.40 R PASSERIFORMES

63 Alaudidae Ashy-crowned Spar row-lark Eremopterix grisea G LC 16.333±6.17 R 64 Laniidae Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus I LC 32.5±11.96 R 65 Indian Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda F LC 23.75±7.42 R 66 Corvidae House Crow Corvus splendens O LC 77.25±30.095 R

67 Jungle Cro w Corvus macrorh ynchos O LC 65.75±18.93 R 68 Artamidae Ash y Woodswallow Artamus fuscus I LC 37.666±26.35 R 69 Oriolidae Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus F LC 24±7.97 RM 70 Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica I LC 11.666±4.66 R Monarchinae 71 Asian Paradise -Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi I LC 18.5±5.664 RM 72 Dicruridae Black Drong o Dicrurus macr ocercus I LC 27.25±10.25 R

73 Aegithinidae Common Iora Aegithina tiphia I LC 12.666±6.12 R 74 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis I LC 19.333±8.57 R

75 Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata I LC 35±7.37 R 76 Muscicapidae Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata I LC 51±24.57 R

77 Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus I LC 332±177.92 WM 78 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis F LC 184.5±62.33 R

79 Sturnidae Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodar um F LC 169.25±109.1 R 80 Common Swallow Hirundo rustica I LC 115.25±37.34 R 81 Hirundinidae Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica I LC 139.5±57.2 WM 82 Pycnonotidae Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus caf er F LC 73.75±23.78 R 21±7.78 83 Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis I LC R 84 Cisticolidae Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius I LC 30.75±10.78 R 85 Timaliinae White-headed Babbler Turdoides affinis I LC 123±42.67 R 86 Dicaeidae Pale-billed Flo werpecker Dicaeum erythr orhynchos F LC 103±31.63 R 87 Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylanica N LC 24.75±10.98 R

88 Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica N LC 21.75±7.48 R 89 Nectariniidae Loten’s Sunbird Nectarinia lotenia N LC 26±12 R

SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.11(3), 2015. ISSN: 0972-3153 3

S. No Bird Name Scientific Name Feeding Guild IUCN status Mean±SE Migrant Status PASSERIFORMES 90 Larg e Pied Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis I LC 33.333±9.94 R 91 White Wagtail Motacilla alba I LC 15.5±7.5 R Motacillidae 92 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava I LC 83.75±31.53 RM 93 Paddy- field Pipit Anthus rufulus I LC 33±10.107 R 94 Passeridae House Sparrow Passer domesticus G LC 146.75±46.74 R 95 Ploceinae Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus G LC 1354.25±510.68 R

96 White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata G LC 526±197.32 R Estrididae 97 Black-headed Munia Lonchura malacca G LC 46.5±16.5 R

98 Fringillidae Common R osefinch Carpodacus erythrinus G LC 14±1 WM Feeding Guild: C-Carnivore; F-F rugivore; G-Granivore; I-Insectivore; N-Nectarivore; O-Omni vore; P-Pisci vore;

Status: R-Resident; RM-Resident Migrant; WM-Winter Migrant IUCN Category: LC Least Concern, NR Near Threatened, V Vulnerable .

The avifauna of this sanctuary included a Vulnerable species, Wooly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) and four Feeding IUCN Migrant S. No Bird Name Scientific Name Near Threatened species namely, Spot-billed Pelican Guild status Status (Pelecanus philippensis), Oriental Darter (Anhinga 1 TURNICIFORMES Turnix sylvaticus Turnicidae G LC R melanogaster), Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), Black- Common Buttonquail 2 ANSERIFORMES Anas crecca headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus). Anatidae I LC WM Common Teal Among the 16 orders, Passeriformes dominated with 36 3 CHARADRIIFORMES Sterna hirundo Sternidae P LC WM species followed by Ciconiiformes (15), Coraciiformes (7) Common Tern 4 River Tern Sterna aurantia P LC WM and Charadriiformes (6). Ardeidae constituted the largest 5 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida family with eight species. Most of the families were P LC WM represented by one species. Largest proportion of species 6 Charadriidae Vanellus malabaricus Yellow wattled Lapwing I LC WM was represented by Ardeidae (8.16%) followed by 7 PELECANIFORMES Ixobrychus flavicollis Accipitridae, Cuculidae (5.10%) each and Motacillidae , Ardeidae P LC RM Black Bittern Rallidae (4.08%) each. 8 PASSERIFORMES Acrocephalus agricola Sylviidae I LC R Paddyfield Warbler Nesting: A total of 277 active nests were located on 9 Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Acacia nilotica trees durin the study period. Nine bird I LC R 10 Py cnonotidae Pycnonotus jocosus species were found breeding here which included Little Red- whiskered Bulbul F LC R 11 Estrildidae Lonchura punctulata Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Spot-billed Pelican, Scaly-breasted Munia G LC R Black-crowned Night Heron, Indian Pond Heron, Median 12 Indian Silverbill Lonchura malabarica G LC R Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill and Baya Weaver. Out of the 13 Campephagidae Pericrocotus cinnamomeus I LC R 277 nests recorded during the study period, 265 (95.67%) Small Minivet belonged to aquatic bird nests and 12 (4.33%) belonged to Acknowledgements terrestrial bird nests. All aquatic birds used Acacia nilotica for nesting purpose. Out of the 265 nests recorded, This work was funded by the Tamil Nadu Forest highest number of nests was observed for Spot-billed Department under the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Greening Project (TBGP). We thank Shri. I. Anwardeen, IFS., Pelican (34.30%) followed by Black-crowned Night Heron (21.66%), Grey Heron (15.42%) and Little cormorant former Conservator of Forests, Erode circle and (9.39%). Nests of Painted storks w ere also observed Shri. S. J. Ambrose, IFS, former District Forest officer for during a later visit. sanctioning the project to us. We thank the Range Officer, Forester and field staff for providing accommodation and To conclude, it may be noted that the Vellode Bird support in the field work. We thank Dr. P.A. Azeez, Sanctuary forms an important bird habitat as it is rich in Director SACON for the encouragement avian diversity and also forms an ideal nesting location for many species including the Spot-billed Pelican and Painted Stork. 4 SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.11(3), 2015. ISSN: 0972-3153

References

Abhisheka, K., Patrick David, J., Prashanth. M.B., Seshadri, K.S. and Ganesh, T. (2013). First detailed survey of waterbirds in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 5(12): 4641–4652. Ali, S. (2002). The Book of Indian Birds. Oxford University Press, Delhi, xiii+326 pp. Ali, S and S.D. Ripley (1983). Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Oxford University Press, Oxford, xiii+737pp. Bibby, C. J., N. J. Collar, M. J. Crosby, M. F. Heath, C.H. Imboden, T. H. Johnson, A. J. Long, A. J. Sattersfield, and S. J. Thirgood. (1992). Putting biodiversity on the map: priority areas for global conservation. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Birdlife International (2012). IUCN Redlist for Birds. http://www.birdlife.org/ cited on 10th January 2015. Custer, T.W. and R.W. Osborne. (1977). Wading birds as biological indicators. Long Survey, US. Fish and Wildlife service, Washington, DC. Gokula, V. (2013). Avifauna of Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, India. Zoo's Print, 27(6): 23-29. Grimmet, R., C. Inskipp and T. Inskipp (1999). Birds of Indian Subcontinent. Christopher Helm Publisher, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 384pp. Guptha, M.B., Vijayan, L., Sandaliyan, S and Sridharan, N. (2011). Status of wetlands and wetland Birds in Coimbatore, Trichy, Perambalore and Thiruvarur Districts in Tamil Nadu, India. World Journal of Zoology 6 (2): 154-158. Johnson, J.M. (1971). The heronry at Koonthankulam, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. Newsletter for Birdwatchers, 11(8): 1-4. Johnson, J.M. (2000). The birds of Koonthankulam. Swagat, 21(3): 50-51 Krishnan, M. (1993). The Vedanthangal water bird sanctuary. Humea, (1) 1:2-8. Kumar, V.K.S. (1980). Koonthankulam Heronry. Hornbill, 1980 (2): 10-16. Ramamurthy, V. and Rajakumar, R. (2014). A study of avifaunal diversity and influences of water quality in the Udhayamarthandapuram bird sanctuary, Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, 3(1): 8851-8858. Santharam, V. and Menon, R.K.G. (1990). Some observations on the water bird population of the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary. Newsletter for Birdwatchers, 31(11-12):6-8.

SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.11(3), 2015. ISSN: 0972-3153 5 Abstract Taluka(Lat 170 10' 0” N and Long 740 0' 0” E) in Kolhapur The study of avian fauna from 40 villages of Shahuwadi District of Maharashtra State, India. The taluka has several Taluka, Kolhapur situated along the Western Ghats was wilderness areas including Radhanagari wildlife sanctuary, studied during October 2014. Point Count method was Chandoli National park and Amba Ghats (Figure 1). applied for counting of birds in the area. Marking and Materials and Methods identification of the villages and water bodies were done The study focused only along 40 different villages of with help of GIS, while the use of ecological indices was Shahuwadi Talukas. The selection of the villages was done used to assess the role of birds as ecological indicators. on the basis of presence of any forest reserve or sanctuary Overall study showed presence of total 79 species of birds or sacred grove or Grassland or Scrubland area nearby. around the villages of the Western Ghats. Crested tree Another important criteria for the preference of the swift, Yellow fronted pied woodpecker and Pallid harrier village was its proximity to the Western Ghats terrain. The were some of the important observations from the study. th st survey was conducted during 11 October 2014 to 21 The current study is the basic approach to assess the bird October 2014 in morning, afternoon and evening diversity in the Western Ghats region with help of GIS. respectively. Birds were observed using binocular Keywords: Avian fauna, GIS, diversity indices, Kolhapur, (OLYMPUS, 10 X 50) and for photographic Western Ghats. documentation SLR Camera (Canon, 600D) was used. Introduction Point Count method was used for counting of birds (Javed and Kaul, 2002) and the field guides by Ali (2002) and The birds are indicators of ecosystems as they respond to Grimmett (2014) were referred for identification of birds. changes in the environment by changing their composition, behaviour and population (Bilgrami, 1995). Data Analysis Forest and water bodies such as dams and reservoirs Identification and marking of water bodies, forest, attract birds as they provide habitat that is suitable for their digitisation and analysis of the study area was done using life cycle (Robertson and Hackwell, 1995).The presence or the Arc-GIS tool. Univariate analysis like diversity indices absence of specific species in the ecosystem is the Shannon Wiener (H'), Species Richness (d') and Evenness indicator of stress and disturbance in an area. Study of index (j') were carried out with the help of PAST version such habitats and the associated fauna using GIS tools has 3.01 and the values were superimposed in the Arc-GIS. been found useful in evaluating, analysing and interpreting Results and Discussion the conditions in the natural environment. Worldwide the use of GIS for conservation purposes has gathered The terrain of the study area ranged from 195 to 975 m, attention, especially for mapping of biodiversity hot spots with most of the villages situated at an elevation of 600 to and critical biodiversity rich areas. The most often used 800 m (Figure 2). Maximum villages i.e. 22 were located at indicator species as trees, birds, butterflies and higher the lower elevation range between 600 to 700 m followed mammals are easy to sample and monitor and also with 15 villages along the mid elevation range (i.e. 700 - 800 represent diverse groups of biological significance. The m), with only two villages occurring at high altitude over present study is to find out how the geography of an area 800 m (Table 2).The spatial analysis of the area reveals that influences the distribution of the birds using the GIS as a 24 water bodies exist either in or surrounding the 27 of the tool. 40 villages in the taluka (Table 2) out of the 24 water bodies seven were in and around the Shirale village, this was Study Area followed by two water bodies around Wakoli, Purasle and The present study was carried out in Shahuwadi Ghosalwade villages while four villages shared two water 6 SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.11(3), 2015. ISSN: 0972-3153 bodies. Altitude wise both the high altitude villages are field survey. Low population and diversity were closer to the wetlands, while the 14 villages from the low encountered in low altitude range and in crop field areas. altitude ranges have water some water resource near the Application of GIS in ecology makes easy understanding village. However, in the mid elevation ranges only four of the avifaunal distributional study, while analysis and villages (Panundre, Parleninai, Palaswade and Manjre) were graphical output helps to explain detailing of it. not located closer to the wetlands. Overlapping terrain over the villages and superimposing Total 79 species of birds were recorded belonging to 41 the ecological indices data help in interpreting the health families, though occurrence of crested tree swift, yellow of the environment. fronted pied woodpecker and pallid harrier were some A c k n o wledgements of the important sightings from the study area (Table 1). Authors sincerely thank the Geography Department, The Accipitridae family with six species followed by Elphinstone College, Mumbai for providing the GIS Pycnonotidae and Sylviinae with five species each were the software facilities. common species in the study area. The population density and diversity varied among the 40 villages. The diversity of birds was higher in Wakoli and Ukhalu villages with 14 species each followed by Shirale, Panundare and Malgaon Villages S N H E M villages with 13 species each. Altitude range196-600 meters Jambur 3 9 1 0.9 0.9 The density of birds was higher (varying between 13 to 17 Altitude range 600.01-700 meters individuals) in the Ukhalu, Malgaon, Wakoli, Amba, ShiraleTarfWarun 6 12 1.7 0.9 2 Kandwan 7 17 1.6 0.7 2.1 Talawade, YelwanJugai, Panundre, Shirale villages (Figure Malgaon 13 30 2.2 0.7 3.5 3) at the same time the diversity indices like species Virale 4 8 1.1 0.7 1.4 richness(d'), Shannon diversity (H') index and eveness was Wakoli 14 42 2.4 0.8 3.5 Talavade 12 27 2.3 0.8 3.3 recorded high for Ukhalu, Malgaon, Yelwanjugai and Jawali 7 13 1.8 0.9 2.3 Shirale villages (Table 2, Figures 2, 4 and 5). Kasarde 6 10 1.6 0.9 2.2 Gajapur 8 27 1.7 0.7 2.1 The high values of diversity indices and species richness Parivane 10 31 2 0.7 2.6 indicates the conducive environment of the village area, Mosum 7 12 1.9 0.9 2.4 Kante 4 4 1.4 1 2.2 similar observations were reported for the Western Ghats Sonurle 10 15 2.1 0.8 3.3 by Harisha and Hosetti (2009). Further when the evenness Anuskara 2 3 0.6 0.9 0.9 Chalanwadi 9 22 1.9 0.8 2.6 value across the elevation ranges was compared based on Amba 10 26 2.1 0.8 2.8 the bird composition, the low elevation villages had higher Mhalswade Bad weather evenness value (i.e. 13) followed by mid elevation range at 7 Shirale 13 30 2.4 0.8 3.5 Humbawali 5 11 1.4 0.8 1.7 and high elevation villages had a very low value of 2. High Yelwan-Jugai 12 19 2.3 0.8 3.7 altitude ranges show more diversity than the low, because Yelwadi 11 41 1.6 0.5 2.7 of more canopy cover and sufficient food supply and water Burambal 6 25 1.4 0.7 1.6 Altitude range 700.01-800 meters bodies (Table 3). The moderate values of species richness Injoli 6 8 1.7 0.9 2.4 and diversity in the low altitude villages corroborated with Swardi 5 9 1.5 0.9 1.8 ShiraleTarf Malkapur 7 24 1.5 0.6 1.9 the presence of the dry deciduous type of the forest in the Panundre 13 45 2.3 0.7 3.2 area (Harisha and Hosetti, 2009). Pramod et al. (1997) Parleninai 10 36 1.9 0.7 2.5 stated that the crop cultivation, loss of forest and habitat as Gelavade 12 30 2.4 0.9 3.2 Palaswade 7 8 1.9 1 2.9 a threat while citing the reasons for low density of the birds Masnoli/Manoli 5 10 1.5 0.9 1.7 as was observed in the low altitude areas of our study. Barki 8 13 1.8 0.8 2.7 Yenwadi 10 14 2.2 0.9 3.4 Conclusion Girgaon 9 21 2 0.8 2.6 Manjre 2 5 0.7 1 0.6 The overall study showed good populations and diversity Pusarle 9 12 2.1 0.9 3.2 near the villages that are situated in the Western Ghats. Ukhalu 14 26 2.4 0.8 4 Gholaswade 11 28 2.3 0.9 3 Ukhalu, Amba, Malgaon, Wakoli, Talawade, Yelwan-Jugai, Altitude range 800.01-900 meters Panundre and Shirale which are on or very close to the Udgiri 9 16 2 0.9 2.9 range of Western Ghats were encountered as well Dhanagarwadi 10 17 2.2 0.9 3.2 populated with a rich diversity of avian fauna during the S- Taxa, N -Individuals, H- Shannon, E - Evenness and M - Margalef SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.11(3), 2015. ISSN: 0972-3153 7 8 SA

Family Common Name Scientific Name Family Common Name Scientific Name House Crow Corvussplendens(Vieillot, 1817 ) Brown-headed Barbet Megalaimazeylanica (Gmelin, 1788) Corvidae Indian Treepie Dendrocittavagabunda (Latham, 1790) Capitonidae Coppersmith Barbet Megalaimahaemacephala (P.L.S. Muller, 1776) House Sparrow Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) Laniidae Rufous-backed Shrike Laniusschach(Linnaeus, 1758) Passerinae Yellow-throated Sparrow Petroniaxanthocollis (Burton, 1838) Black Drongo Dicrurusmacrocercus(Vieillot, 1817) Spotted Dove Streptopeliachinensis (Scopoli, 1786) Ashy Drongo Dicrurusleucophaeus(Vieillot, 1817) Columbidae Little Brown Dove Streptopeliasenegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) Dicruridae White-bellied Drongo Dicruruscaerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Myna Acridotherestristis (Linnaeus, 1766) White Wagtail Motacilla alba(Linnaeus, 1758) Sturnidae Jungle Myna Acridotheresfuscus (Wagler, 1827) Motacillidae Yellow Wagtail Motacillaflava(Linnaeus, 1758) Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittaculakrameri (Scopoli, 1769) Campephagidae Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotusflammeus (Forster, 1781) Psittacidae Plum-headed Parakeet Psittaculacyanocephala (Linnaeus, 1766) House Swift Apusaffinis (J.E. Gray, 1830) Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotuscafer (Linnaeus, 1766) Apodidae Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba (Linnaeus, 1758) Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotusjocosus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Swallow Hirundorustica(Linnaeus, 1758) White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotusleucotis (Gould, 1836) Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundosmithii(Leach, 1818) Black Bulbul Hypsipetesleucocephalus (P.L.S. Muller, 1776) Hirundinidae Red-rumped Swallow Hirundodaurica(Linnaeus, 1771) Pycnonotidae Yellow-browed Bulbul Ioleindica (Jerdon, 1839) Paridae Black-lored Yellow Tit Parusxanthogenys(Vigors, 1831) Monarchinae Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphoneparadisi (Linnaeus, 1758) Turdinae White-rumpedShama Copsychusmalabaricus (Scopoli, 1786) Rhipidurinae White-browed Fantail-Flycatcher Rhipiduraaureola(Lesson, 1830) Irenidae Common Iora Aegithinatiphia (Linnaeus, 1758) Muscicapinae Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher Cyornistickelliae(Blyth, 1843) Alaudidae Common Crested Lark Galeridacristata (Linnaeus, 1758) CON ENVIS Purple Sunbird Nectariniaasiatica (Latham, 1790) Picidae Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker Dendrocoposmahrattensis (Latham, 1801) Crimson Sunbird Aethopygasiparaja (Raffles, 1822) Bucerotidae Indian Grey Hornbill Ocycerosbirostris (Scopoli, 1786) Nectariniidae Small Sunbird Nectarinia minima (Sykes, 1832) Coraciidae Indian Roller Coraciasbenghalensis (Linnaeus, 1758) Plain Flowerpecker DicaeumconcolorJerdon, 1840 White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758) Newsletter -Sar Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeumcruentatum (Linnaeus, 1758) Alcedinidae Small Blue Kingfisher Alcedoatthis (Linnaeus, 1758) Dicaeidae Tickell'sFlowerpecker Dicaeumerythrorhynchos (Latham, 1790) Hemiprocnidae Crested Tree-Swift Hemiprocnecoronata (Tickell, 1833) Ploceinae Baya Weaver Ploceusphilippinus (Linnaeus, 1766) Pied Crested Cuckoo Clamatorjacobinus (Boddaert, 1783) Meropidae Small Bee-eater Meropsorientalis Latham, 1801 Cuculidae Greater Coucal Centropussinensis (Stephens, 1815) ov

ar Saurabh Indian Chat Cercomelafusca (Blyth, 1851) Charadriidae Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellusindicus (Boddaert, 1783) Pied Bushchat Saxicolacaprata (Linnaeus, 1766) Falconidae Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus(Linnaeus, 1758) Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychussaularis (Linnaeus, 1758) Blyth's Reed-Warbler Acrocephalusdumetorum(Blyth, 1849)

V Turdinae Indian Robin Saxicoloidesfulicata (Linnaeus, 1776) Greenish Leaf-Warbler Phylloscopustrochiloides (Sundevall, 1837) Booted Eagle Hieraaetuspennatus (Gmelin, 1788) Common Tailorbird Orthotomussutorius (Pennant, 1769)

ol.11(3), 2015. ISSN:0972-3153 Black Eagle Ictinaetusmalayensis (Temminck, 1822) Plain Prinia Priniainornata(Sykes, 1832) Shikra Accipiter badius (Gmelin, 1788) Sylviinae Jungle Prinia Priniasylvatica(Jerdon, 1840) Black Kite Milvusmigrans (Boddaert, 1783) Spotted Munia Lonchurapunctulata (Linnaeus, 1758) Brahminy Kite Haliasturindus (Boddaert, 1783) Estrildidae Black-headed Munia Lonchuramalacca (Linnaeus, 1766) Accipitridae Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus (S.G. Gmelin, 1770) Phalacrocoracidae Little Cormorant Phalacrocoraxniger (Vieillot, 1817) Indian Peafowl Pavocristatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Timaliinae Large Grey Babbler Turdoidesmalcolmi (Sykes, 1832) Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratiiTemminck, 1813 Turdinae Malabar Whistling-Thrush Myiophonushorsfieldii (Vigors, 1831) Common Quail Coturnixcoturnix (Linnaeus, 1758) Zosteropidae Oriental White-eye Zosteropspalpebrosus (Temminck, 1824) Phasianidae Red Spurfowl Galloperdixspadicea (Gmelin, 1789) Total number of species 79

No. Of Name of Villages water Name of the water bodies bodies Doodhgangasagar,Radhanagari Reservoir, Kurli Shirale 7 Dam, Dajipur, Gangeshwar, Gaganbawada, Lake,Tulashi Dam Wakoli 2 Kandwan, Chandoli Talavade, Chalanwadi, 1 Manoli Humbawali, Masnoli, Gelavade, 1 Gajapur Gajapur Injoli 1 Injoli Swardi 1 Sawardi Reservoir ShiraleTarfWarun, Udgiri, 2 Warana, Kandvan Kandwan, Ukhalu Kante, Barki, 1 Kumbhawade Reservoir Mosum, Anuskura Yenwadi Mhalsawade 1 Lake ShiraleTarfMalkapur Girgaon 1 Kandalgaon Lake Dhanagarwadi Kasarde 1 Chandoli Jawali Pusarle 2 Bhendavade Gholaswade 2 Manoli,Chandoli Jambur 1 Kandvan

References Ali. Salim 2002.(13th Ed.).The Book of Indian Birds. Bombay Natural History Society.Oxford Press.354 pp. Bilgrami, K.S. 1995. Concept and Conser vation of Biodiversity. CBS Publishers and distributors , Delhi. Grimmett Richard, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp. 2014. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University

Press.528 pp. Hammer, Ø, Harper, D.A.T., Ryan, P.D.2001, PAST: Palaeontological Statistics software package for education and data analysis, Palaeontologia Electronica 4(1): 9 pp. Harisha,M.N. and Hosetti, B.B. 2009.Diversity and distribution of avifauna of Lakkavalli range forest, Bhadra wildlife sanctuary, Western Ghat, India. ECOPRINT 16: 21-27. Ludwig, J. A. and Reynolds,J. F.1998.Statistical Ecology - A primer on methods and computing, 90 – 92. Pramod, P., R.J.R. Daniels, N.V. Joshi and M. Gadgil. 1997. Evaluating bird communities of Western Ghats to plan for a biodiversity friendly development. Current Science, 78:156-162. Robertson, H.A. and K.R. Hackwell. 1995. Habitat preferences of birds in seral kahikatea Dacrycarpusdacrydioides (Podocarpaceae) forest of South Westland, New Zealand. Biological Conservation, 71:275-280. SalimJaved and Rahul Kaul. 2002. Field Methods for Bird Surveys. Indian Bird Conservation Network,Bombay Natural History Society. ManakadanRanjit and AsheeshPittie 2001.Standardised common and scientific names of the birds of the Indian Subcontinent.Buceros Vol. 6 (1): 48pp. SACON ENVIS Newsletter - Sarovar Saurabh Vol.11(3), 2015. ISSN: 0972-3153 9 Mumbai gets a flamingo sanctuary - The Hindu - 09 August 2015

A flamingo sanctuary in a bustling metropolis. Mumbai is setting another record after being home to a national park for decades. If the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is right in the heart of the city, the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary, which came into being on Friday, is on its periphery.

On Thursday, the Maharashtra Revenue and Forest Department notified the northern part of the creek as a wildlife sanctuary under Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection Act), 1972.

The sanctuary will be the State’s second marine sanctuary after the one at Malvan. The 1,690-hectare bird haven - 896 hectares of mangrove forests and 794 hectares of a waterbody - is on the western bank of the creek, between the Airoli and the Vashi bridges connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Its eco-sensitive zone will be the adjoining mangrove areas on either side of the creek, which are already notified as reserve forests.

“Declaration of the sanctuary, located right in the middle of a mega city, is a very significant step for the conservation of this unique natural environment with its eclectic mix of mangroves, mudflats and threatened species of birds,” N. Vasudevan, Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangroves Cell, said. The Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit of the Mangrove Cell of the Forest Department will manage the sanctuary.

Biodiversity assessment

The cell has initiated baseline studies and a rapid biodiversity assessment of the sanctuary area with assistance from an Indo-German project on conservation and sustainable management of marine protected areas. “These studies would, in turn, help in the preparation of a scientific management plan for the sanctuary and its sustainable management. The ecosystem will be closely monitored and shielded from serious threats such as discharge of effluents, dumping of sewage and other biotic interferences,” Mr. Vasudevan said.

The creek has been attracting flamingos in large numbers since 1994. By November every year, over 30,000 of these birds, along with their chicks, descend here and occupy the mudflats and the bordering mangroves. They stay here till May, after which most of them migrate to Bhuj in Gujarat for breeding, leaving a small resident population. A large number of waders are also spotted along with them.

Besides supporting a large congregation of flamingos, the area is a refuge for many resident and migratory birds. In all, 200 species have been reported.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/mumbai-gets-a-flamingo-sanctuary/article7514038.ece

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