Environment Conservation Journal 18(1&2) 63-69, 2017 ISSN 0972-3099 (Print) 2278-5124 (Online) Abstracted and Indexed Avifaunal diversity of Kalibhit forest district Khandwa Vivek Keshre and Sheela Shrivastava Received: 08.01.2017 Revised: 18.02.2017 Accepted: 29.03.2017 Abstract Khandwa is one of the districts of state Madhyapradesh which is situated at the southern part of state Madhyapradesh The East Kalibhit forest is one of the largest forest range of dist. Khandwa which is situated nearly 75 kilometres in the eastern part of dist. Khandwa The present investigation was carried out to document the avifauna of this forest This habitat attracted nearly 102 bird species which are local and migratory belonging to 35 families and 14 different orders viz. Ciconiformes, Anseriformes, Gruiformes Pelecanformes, Charadriformes, Coraciformes, Passeriformes and Suliformies Highest population of parakeets and starlings were recorded in all seasons. Key words:- East Kalibhit, Migratory, Avifauna Introduction “Native biodiversity is a source of pride for each many types of grassland, wetlands; man grows country, Composing as it does a shining part of the forests and islands in our country which not only national heritage”. India is one of the 10 popular attracts the birds for food and shelter but for the countries of the world in which maximum nesting and breeding also. biodiversity of plants and animals can be seen. The biodiversity of India consist 7% of plants and 6.5% Study area of animal species of the world, according to The east Kalibhit forest is a dry deciduous forest Rodgers and Panwar (1988) in India 10 biographic situated at the junction of dist.Harda, Betul, zones and 26 biotic provinces are found. In India Burhanpur of Madhyapradesh and Amrawati dist of more than 600 species of amphibians and reptiles, Maharashtra. The forest covers more than 311 1300 species of birds and 350 species of mammals KM square areas of Vindhyachal Mountain rang are found out of which 172 species of mammals & blessed with a major river Tapti, which makes 78 species of birds are about to extinct or border of Madhyapradesh and Maharashtra with threatened. Birds are most beloved animals due to many other small rivers and nullahs which are their beautiful colours, sweet and melodious calls among the main habitats of several bird species. or songs and most active life; besides these they The present investigation was carried out to show their presence from dense forests, grasslands, document the avifauna of this untouched forest wetlands, croplands to the gardens of cities and our from the avifaunal study point of view. Climatic residences. India have near about 1300 species, out conditions of East Kalibhit are of typical dry of 10000 species found all over in the world in deciduous forest and its natural vegetation which 2 meter long pelicans to 8 centimetres small comprises a combination of teak, Sal bamboo and humming bird are included. The presence of these so many other species of plants. The hottest months species is due to presence of different types of are May and June in which the temperature may habitat like dry desert of Rajasthan to dense rain rise to 42°C. The period from November to forest of north-east and from long humid southern February is comparatively cool with an average seashore to colder parts of Himalaya. We have temperature of 8 to 9°C. The maximum rainfall is Author’s Address received during the months of July and august. 1 S.N. Govt. P.G. College, Khandwa (M.P.) With a suitable climate and forest cover with 2 Govt. Girls P.G.College, Khandwa (M.P) wetlands, Kalibhit forest has become a favourite E-mail: [email protected] nesting ground for many birds, as a whole hosts a Copyright by ASEA 63 All rights of reproduction in any form reserved Environment Conservation Journal Keshre and Shrivastava large variety of bird species both resident and other. Diversity of birds calculated by direct - migratory. The natural surroundings like detection landscapes, environment and woods make Kalibhit a home of several migratory birds. The Results and Discussion water bodies, here are among the main habitats of A total of 102 (32 aquatic and 70 terrestrial) species birds and many birds species are dependent on belongs to 14 orders and 45 families were recorded them, this is only reason most of the migrated birds during the study period in this forest, Order flock to this forest for their nests. Passeriformes with 39 species was found most diversified while order Apodiformes with only one Material and methods species showed least diversity. Family Ardeidae, Birds were surveyed for about three to four times Columbidae and Phasinide found equally every month from October 2014 to June 2016. The diversified with 6 species each, while Apodidae, survey were conducted on four wheeler, two Capitonidae, Estrilidae Stenostrilae and many other wheeler or on foot as well and observations were families showed least diversity with only one made with 7x50 binoculars, mainly 6.00 to 10.00 species. Out of 102 species 67 species like Am in the morning and 4.00 to 6.00 PM in the Starlings, Parakeets, Laughing dove, cattle egret, evening therefore nocturnal birds were not studied. Rufouse tree pie Bay backed Shrike, Crows and Ali and Ripley (1987), Grimmett et al. (1998) were Magpie Robin were common resident, 21 species used to identify the birds, calls and songs were also like Yellow wattled Lapwing, White napped matched with pre recorded CD prepared by woodpecker, Chestnut headed Bee eater, were not Bombay Natural History Society Mumbai and in common resident, 08 species like Common many cases photographs were taken to confirm the Sandpiper, Barn Swallow, and Grey Wagtail were identification. 50 sites were selected for the common winter visitors, 04 species like Variable observations some of them were situated at water Wheatear and Scaly Trush were visitors of other sources. Every site was set nearly 5 KM far from season while 02 species were vagrant. Table-Recorded species, along with their scientific name, family, order and migratory status S.N. S Common Name Scientific Name Order Family 1 CR Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus Galliformes Phasinidae 2 CR Common Quail Coturnix coturnix Galliformes Phasinidae 3 CR Jungle Bush Quail Perdicula asiatica Galliformes Phasinidae 4 CR Red Jungle fowl Gallus gallus Galliformes Phasinidae 5 CR Grey Jungle Fowl Gallus sonneratil Galliformes Phasinidae 6 CR Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Galliformes Phasianidae 7 NR Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanots Anseriformes Anatidae 8 CW Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Anseriformes Anatidae 9 NR Spot billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Anseriformes Anatidae 10 Yellow Crowned CR Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis Piciformes Picidae 11 CR Black Rumped Flameback Dinopium benghalense Piciformes Picidae 12 NR White naped WoodPecker Chrysocolaptes festivus Piciformes Picidae 13 CR coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala Piciformes Capitonidae 14 CR Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris Coraciformes Bucerotidae 15 CR Common hoopoe Upupa epops Coraciformes Upuoidae 16 CR Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Coraciformes Coracidae 64 Environment Conservation Journal Avifaunal diversity of Kalibhit forest district Khandwa 17 Common King Fisher CR Alcedo atthis Coraciformes Alcedinidae 18 NR Stork billd Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis Coraciformes Alcedinidae 19 CR White Throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Coraciformes Alcedinidae 20 V Black Capped kingfisher Halcyon pileata Coraciformes Alcedinidae 21 CR pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Coraciformes Alcedinidae 22 CR Green Bee eater Merops orientalis Coraciformes Meropidae 23 NR Chestnut Headed Bee eater Merops leschenaulti Coraciformes Meropidae 24 CR Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Cuculiformes Cuculidae 25 CR Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Cuculiformes Cuculidae 26 CR Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria Psittaciformes Psittacidae 27 CR Rose ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri Psittaciformes Psittacidae 28 CR Plum headed Parakeet Psittacula cyanocephala Psittaciformes Psittacidae 26 NR Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Apodiformes Apodidae 30 CR Blue Rockpigeon Columba livia Clumbiformes Columbidae 31 CR Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis Clumbiformes Columbidae 32 CR laughing Dove Stigmatopelia senegalensis Clumbiformes Columbidae 33 CR Spotted Dove Stigmatopelia chinensis Clumbiformes Columbidae 34 CR Euresian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Clumbiformes Columbidae 35 CR yellow footed green pigeon Treron phoenicoptera Clumbiformes Columbidae 36 CR white breasted Water Hen Amaurornis phoenicurus Gruiformes Rallidae 37 NR purple Swamp Hen Porphyrio porphyrio Gruiformes Rallidae 38 CR Common Moor Hen Gallinula chloropus Gruiformes Rallidae 39 CW Common Sand Piper Actitis hypoleucos Charedriformes Scolopacidae 40 NR Black Wing Stilt Himantopus himantopus Charedriformes Recurvirostridae 41 CR Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Charedriformes Charadriinae 42 V Lesser sand Plover Charadrius mongolus Charedriformes Charadriinae 43 NR Yellow wattled lapwing Vanellus malabaricus Charedriformes Charedridae 44 CR Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Charedriformes Charedridae 45 NR Black winged Kite Elanus caeruleus Falconiformes Accipitridae 46 NR Short-toed snake eagle Circaetus gallicus Falconiformes Accipitridae 47 CR Shikra Accipiter badius Falconiformes Accipitridae 48 CW Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Falconiformes Falconidae 49 NR Peragrine falcon Falco peregrinus Falconiformes Falconidae 50 NR Darter