Global Journal of Science Frontier Research: C Biological Science Volume 18 Issue 4 Version 1.0 Year 2018 Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Online ISSN: 2249-4626 & Print ISSN: 0975-5896 Diversity, Abundance and Activity Pattern of Wetland Birds Along Cauvery Basin at Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India By Veeramani. A & Usha. S Governmental Arts College (Autonomous), Kumbakonam Abstract- The role of avifauna in the ecosystem are as scavenger, pollinators, seeds dispersal agents and predators of insect pest and also an important indicator to evaluate different habitats both qualitatively and quantitatively. Wetlands are also important for birds for their feeding, roosting, nesting and rearing young activities. The present study was conducted in the cultivated areas and water bodies of the villages adjacent to Kumbakonam. Birds were estimated using total count method. Activity pattern and physio-chemical parameters of fresh water habitats were identified using standard methodologies. Thirty one species of water birds belonging to 14 families have been identified in the waterways at the study area. The density of diving birds, swimming birds, small waders, large waders and aerial foragers were slightly higher in the month of November than March. Most of the birds observed and recorded higher in monsoon followed by pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Physio-chemical parameters of water in the study sites was slightly alkaline nature and contained high amounts of pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, salinity and turbidity throughout the study period. Keywords: wetland birds, diversity, density, richness, activity pattern, physio-chemical parameters. GJSFR-C Classification: FOR Code: 060899 DiversityAbundanceandActivityPatternofWetlandBirdsAlongCauveryBasinatKumbakonamTamilNaduIndia Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of: © 2018. Veeramani. A & Usha. S. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Diversity, Abundance and Activity Pattern of Wetland Birds Along Cauvery Basin at Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India α σ Veeramani. A & Usha. S Abstract- The role of avifauna in the ecosystem are as species of wildlife such as birds, mammals, fish, frogs, scavenger, pollinators, seeds dispersal agents and predators insects and plants (Buckton, 2007). of insect pest and also an important indicator to evaluate Animal biodiversity in India hasmuch number of 2018 different habitats both qualitatively and quantitatively. r invertebrate species, 2546 species of fishes, 204 ea Wetlands are also important for birds for their feeding, Y roosting, nesting and rearing young activities. The present species of amphibians, 446 species of reptiles, 1228 study was conducted in the cultivated areas and water bodies species of bird and 372 species of mammals (Agarwal, 111 of the villages adjacent to Kumbakonam. Birds were estimated 2000). Among the bird, 9000 species were found in the using total count method. Activity pattern and physio-chemical world, over 13% of the world’s bird fauna are found in parameters of fresh water habitats were identified using India (Grimmett et al., 1998). The role of avifauna in the standard methodologies. Thirty one species of water birds ecosystem are as scavenger, pollinators, seeds belonging to 14 families have been identified in the waterways dispersal agent and predators of insect pest and also an IV at the study area. The density of diving birds, swimming birds, important indicator to evaluate different habitats both ue Version I small waders, large waders and aerial foragers were slightly s qualitatively and quantitatively (Niemi,1985, Bilgram, s higher in the month of November than March. Most of the birds observed and recorded higher in monsoon followed by 1995, Padmavathi et al, 2010). The global diversity of I pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Physio-chemical birds is considerably decreasing due to anthropogenic XVIII parameters of water in the study sites was slightly alkaline activities and climate changes (Rapoport, 1993 and nature and contained high amounts of pH, dissolved oxygen, Chen et al, 2011). electrical conductivity, salinity and turbidity throughout the Out of 310 Indian wetland bird species, 130 are study period. migrant, 173 are resident, however the status is ) Keywords: wetland birds, diversity, density, richness, unknown for seven species. Among the migrants, 107 C activity pattern, physio-chemical parameters. are winter migrants, six have some passage ( population(s), 13 are summer migrants, and the I. Introduction remaining four are purely passage migrants (Kumar et tudies shows that wetlands are extremely al., 2006). Systematic study on diversity and abundance Research Volume important areas throughout the world for wildlife of the water birds of Cauvery delta region is lacking. Sprotection, recreation, sediment control, flood Hence the present study intended to document the prevention (Sivaperuman and Jayson, 2000). They are avian fauna of these wetland habitats which was carried Frontier also important bird habitats for feeding, roosting, out from September 2016 to August 2017 with the nesting and rearing young (Wellar, 1999 and Stewart, following objectives. 2001). Wetlands are being used for agriculture, Objectives Science aquaculture, reclamation for harbouring and industrial To determine the status, distribution and abundance of purpose, disposing the waste materials, discharging the of wetland birds, industrial seasoning, dumping dredged soil, coir retting To find out the activity pattern of important species and for fishing (Nameer, 1998 and Balachandran et al., of birds, Journal 2002). Wetlands are the transitional lands between To know the water quality parameters of the terrestrial and aquatic eco-systems where water table is wetlands and near the surface or the land and is covered by shallow To identify the conservation problems facing by Global water (Mitsch and Gosselink, 1986). They are the most wetland birds. productive ecosystems play a vital role in flood control, aquifer recharge, nutrient absorption and erosion II. Materials And Methods control. In addition, wetlands provide home for a many a) Study location The Cauvery is one of the largest Indian river Author α σ: Veeramani Arunachalam, Assistant Professor, PG and Research Department of Zoology, Government Arts College and its origin is at Talakaveri of Kodagu in Karnataka, (Autonomous), Kumbakonam – 612 002, India. flows towards south and east through Karnataka e-mail: [email protected] and Tamil Nadu states and across the southern Deccan ©2018 Global Journals Diversity, Abundance and Activity Pattern of Wetland Birds Along Cauvery Basin at kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India plateau through the southeastern lowlands, emptying under irrigation by the construction of the Grand into the Bay of Bengal. In Tiruchirappalli the river Anicut canal and the Vadavar canal in 1934. It has an becomes wide, with a sandy bed, and flows in an average elevation of 26 metres. The town is bounded by eastern direction until it splits into two at upper Anicut. two rivers, the Cauvery River on the north and Arasalar The northern branch of the river is called the River on the south. Kollidam while the southern branch retains the name Kumbakonam is surrounded by extensive Cauvery and then goes directly eastwards into paddy and other crops cultivation. Methods of irrigation Thanjavur District. Then the river splits and goes to few were considerably improved following the opening of places in the Delta regions of Cauvery. the Mettur Dam. The present study was conducted in Kumbakonam is located at 10.97°N and the cultivated areas and water bodies of the villages 79.42°E. It lies in the region called "New Delta" adjacent to Kumbakonam are given in the Table. 1. comprising of the southern taluks that were brought 2018 Table 1: Habitats selected for the study on Birds r ea Sl. No. Place River Pond Paddy field Y 1 Neelathanallur * * 121 2 Kumbakonam * * 3 Karaikurichi * 4 Melathukurichi * 5 Arul Mozhi * IV 6 Kadichambadi * * ue Version I s s 7 Devanancheri * * I 8 Asur * * XVIII 9 Paratai * * 10 Mathanathur * * * *Study habitats ) III. tudy ethods and scan sampling methods (record each animal’s C S M ( behavior at predetermined time for certain period) with 5 Observations were made in the morning and minutes intervals (Feeroz and Islam 1992, Hasan et al. afternoon hours between the months of September 2016 2005, Akhtaret al. 2007, 2009, Martin and Bateson 1993). The activities of all the visible individuals were Research Volume to August 2017. Surveys were conducted on daily basis at different locations like agriculture fields, wetlands and recorded in each scan. The behaviour of one individual tanks, river banks, road side, trees, etc. At each sighting during the scan was recorded as one observation. Other birds were counted using a binocular and identified. In important behaviours (event or instantaneous behaviour Frontier case of doubtful identification, photographs were taken e.g. courtship and copulation, mating etc.) were also and the species is identified later by consulting experts. noted. Activities were recorded as foraging and feeding, Identification of birds was also done using field guides moving,