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BIRD POPULATIONSA journal of global avian demography and biogeography

Volume 12 2013

Published annually by The Institute for Bird Populations


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BIRD POPULATIONS (ISSN 1074-1755) is an entirely electronic journal published annually by TheInstitute for Bird Populations. Copyright 2013 by The Institute for Bird Populations. BIRDPOPULATIONS can be accessed free of charge at www.birdpop.org. All material in this journal maybe copied for the non-commercial purpose of educational or scientific advancement without theneed to seek specific permission.

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Bird Populations 12:1-6© The Institute for Bird Populations 2013

FIRST ACCOUNT OF A NESTING POPULATION OF MONK PARAKEETS, MYIOPSITTA MONACHUS,

WITH NODULE-SHAPED BILL LESIONS IN KATEHAKI, ATHENS, GREECE1

NICHOLAS P. KALODIMOS2

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Specialization in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI 96822

Abstract. A population of Monk Parakeets is herein documented for the firsttime in Greece. These birds were found nesting in Parko Scholis ChorofylakisDimotiko, Katehaki, Athens, a location likely where the population founders’originated from an existing zoological garden. Characteristics of the population (21birds) were its high site fidelity, earlier fledging date (no later than 12 June 2010),and higher than average number of fledglings per pair (1.9 per pair) than reportedfor populations elsewhere. Also of importance was the presence of bill lesions onadult individuals who were feeding fledglings. Disease in naturalized parrotpopulations is not well documented. Monk Parakeet incidence and pattern ofdisease is important to define their role as disease reservoirs in new areas andlikewise, how they, themselves, are impacted by existing avian disease in hostecosystems.

Key words: bird disease, Greek birds, Monk Parakeet, non-native birds, parrots,urban birds

PRIMER REGISTRO DE ANIDACION DE LA COTORRA ARGENTINA ENGRECIA, INCLUYENDO INDIVIDUOS CON LESIONES EN EL PICO

Resumen. Documentamos por primera vez la presencia de una población decotorras argentinas (Myiopsitta monachus) en Grecia. Las aves fueron encontradasanidando en Parko Scholis Chorofylakis Dimotiko, Katehaki, Atenas, localidad deorigen de los fundadores de la población desde un parque zoológico. La población(21 individuos) se caracteriza por una marcada filopatría, una fecha más tempranade abandono del nido (antes del 12 de junio 2010) y un mayor número de pollos

____________________1Received 17 May 2012; accepted 10 Dec 20122E-mail address: [email protected]

BIRD POPULATIONSA journal of global avian biogeography

Volume 12 2013

INTRODUCTIONThe Monk Parakeet (Miyopsitta monachusBoddaert 1783) is among the most geographi-cally widespread naturalized parrot worldwide.Occurring in more than five European countries(Diederik and Erik 2009), no populations haveheretofore been reported for Greece. However,in 2010 a small population was found by theauthor in Athens, Greece, and reported here arecharacteristics of this colony. Monk ParakeetMonk Parakeet

METHODSThe population of Monk Parakeets was locatedin Parko Scholis Chorofylakis Dimotiko, (parkcenter, latitude 37°59'21.46"N, longitude23°46'14.73"E; Google Inc. 2010), planted withmostly mature, 12 to 20 m Aleppo pine (Pinushalepensis) creating a 75% closed canopy (Fig.1). The dimensions of the forested park wereapproximately 237 m along its MesogeionBoulevard northern border, 190 m along itsTrikalon Street western border, 130 m along anaccess road on the southern border, and 315 malong an unnamed paved road on the easternboarder (Google Inc. 2010). Monk Parakeetobservations were opportunistically collectedby walking the park’s formal pathways forhalf-days on June 8, 12, 19, 25 and July 12, 2010usually between 11:00 – 16:00 or 14:00 – 18:00.A Canon GL-2 video camera with a 2.2xtelephoto filter and a Canon digital still camerawere used to document the observations andprovide enhanced viewing opportunities.During the observation days, daytimetemperatures were about 32º and eveningtemperatures about 24º C. There was noprecipitation after 15 June. Wind speed waslow, approximately 1 Beaufort (1-5 km/hr).

RESULTS

HABITAT.

The surrounding area was heavily urbanizedwith multi-story buildings. Trees surroundingthe park included dozens of Mediterranean red-bud tree (Cercis siliquastrum) planted alongMesogeion Boulevard, mature fruitingEucalyptus (Eucalyptis spp.), and Ironwood trees(Casuarina spp.) to the south of the park. TheParko Scholis Chorofylakis Dimotiko containeda small zoological garden (Fig. 1) with well

NICHOLAS P. KALODIMOS

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FIGURE 1. Aleppo pine forest at the zoological gardenwithin the Parko Scholis Chorofylakis Dimotiko. MonkParakeet nest structures were present in these trees.

por pareja (1.9) que en otras poblaciones. También documentamos la presencia delesiones en el pico de los individuos adultos que alimentaban a los volantones. Lasenfermedades en poblaciones naturalizadas de loros no están bien documentadas.La incidencia de cotorras argentinas y enfermedades asociadas son importantespara determinar su papel como reservorios de patógenos en áreas nuevas, así comoevaluar el impacto sobre ellas mismas de las enfermedades aviares en losecosistemas colonizados.

Palabras clave: enfermedad aviar, aves griegas, cotorra argentina, aves exóticas,

MONK PARAKEETS IN GREECE

maintained multi-enclosure aviaries housingother parrots, including Monk Parakeets. One ofthe latter captives had bill lesions, identical tosome of the wild parakeets, and game birds. Thepresence of Monk Parakeets in the aviaryindicates that the zoological garden may be thesource of the founders of the wild population.There was also a tub of water for a pony thatwas accessible to the wild Monk Parakeets atany time of the day. During my observations thewild Monk Parakeets did not land upon thezoological garden aviaries nor did theydetectably communicate with the captive MonkParakeets.

The city of Athens, Greece, experiences aMediterranean climate with cool rainy wintersand very hot, dry summers (Founda et al. 2004).Monk Parakeets tolerate temperate climatesvery well (Weathers and Caccamise 1975,Hyman and Pruett-Jones 1995). However,summertime temperatures in Athens can beextreme, commonly reaching 40º C or higher(Founda et al. 2004), with a highest temperatureof 48º C on 10 July 1977 (Sarantopoulos 1977)and <10 mm of rain in each of the months ofJune - September (Mean monthly precipitationAthens, Greece 2009). Weathers and Caccamise(1975) showed that Monk Parakeets rapidly lostweight if deprived of water and concluded thatMonk Parakeets are appropriately adapted tocolonizing most habitats except for waterlessdeserts. The summertime climate in Athens issimilar to a waterless desert and, therefore,Monk Parakeets at this location may be moredependent upon artificial sources of water, suchas from the in-park zoological garden,potentially slowing their dispersal away fromthe Parko Scholis Chorofylakis Dimotiko. Thismay help to explain the clumped pattern of nestplacement exclusively around the zoologicalgarden. Monk Parakeet nest structures were nomore than 200 m from any other nestingstructure and from the zoological garden withinthe Parko Scholis Chorofylakis Dimotiko. Thisnest placement (dispersal pattern) was muchdenser than the dispersal distances of between300 m and 1230 m in their native Argentineanhabitat (Martin and Bucher 1993). Surroundingurban parks <1000 m away from the ParkoScholis Chorofylakis Dimotiko had similarvegetation structure (Aleppo Pine) and

abundant natural food (pine seeds, figs, weedseeds), but they did not have a water source.The presence of water at the zoological gardenmay well contribute to the concentration of nestsand persistence of population members at thezoological garden in the Parko ScholisChorofylakis Dimotiko. However, in Chicago,Illinois, U.S.A., where rainfall is more evenlydistributed throughout the year, naturalizedMonk Parakeets also build nest structures in anaggregated distribution (Hyman and Pruett-Jones 1995). Thus, other factors may beresponsible for the low dispersal tendencies,namely, release site fidelity.

Monk Parakeets, compared to other parrotspecies, do not normally disperse far from theirnatal locations (Martin and Bucher 1993).Several naturalized populations of parrots in theHawaiian Islands exhibit remarkable fidelity tothe location from which they were released(Author pers. obs., Runde and Pitt 2008), thusthe strong trend of the Katehaki Monk Parakeetpopulation to nest very close to one anothermay be based upon this tendency. The choice tocluster nest structures around the in-parkzoological garden may also be related to thelower tree density in that portion of the park.This tree spacing allows nest-occupyingparakeets better visibility and predator escape.

PARAKEET ACTIVITY.

Monk Parakeet activities during the observationperiods included tree and ground foraging,feeding fledglings and roosting in park trees.There was a marked absence of nest structuremaintenance; only one pair, on one occasion,flew to a nest carrying nest material. MonkParakeets foraged on a diverse array of plants:they were seen frequently foraging on the seedsof open Aleppo pine cones; 12 were seenforaging on mature, unripe fig fruit from a wildCapri fig tree (Ficus carica); and two fed upondry Mediterranean red-bud tree legumes. MonkParakeets also frequently foraged on weed seedsin the park under pine trees in groups of four toeight birds. Feral Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)also ground-foraged in these same locations.

POPULATION AND NESTING.

Fledgling Monk Parakeets were identifiable dueto their shorter central retricies, begging

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behaviors, and white eye-ring (Hyman andPruett-Jones 1995). While perched in anironwood tree, a single adult fed threefledglings, another adult parakeet in a pine treefed two fledglings, another pair fed onefledgling at the nest structure in a pine tree asanother fledgling looked out from the chamberentrance and two adults with nodule-shapedlesions at the base of the bill (Fig. 2) fed twofledglings in a pine tree. The nodule-shapedlesions present on the two parakeets were pinkand red colored, smooth, and clustered aroundthe base of the bill at the gape (Fig. 2). Thenumber of fledglings per pair out of four pairsin this population was above the averagenumber of 1.5 fledglings per pair reported fromwild-reproducing Monk Parakeets in Argentina(Navarro et al. 1992). In Chicago, the first date offledging was on 2 July (Hyman and Pruett-Jones1995). In this Athenian population, flock-flyingfledglings were present from 12 June andpossibly earlier, since flighted fledglings werepresent at the start of the observation period.

I estimated a minimum of 21 Monk Parakeetsin the population by counting all birds seen orheard at one time so as to avoid duplicatecounts. It was likely that there were more than21 parakeets in the entire population. Therewere nine different nest structures, each in adifferent Aleppo pine. One or two adultparakeets flew to each nest structure. All neststructures had one entrance, though one nestingstructure had two. Among other populations 1-2parakeets at each nest entrance has beenreported (see Martella 1985, Navarro et al. 1992,Hyman and Pruett-Jones 1995) but in contrastthe Parko Scholis Chorofylakis Dimotikostructures had low number of nest chambers.Within a group of 12 active nests, in Spain, therewere nest structures with two, three, and up toeight chambers (entrances) (Nores 2009) and inChicago from one to seven chambers withusually an average of 1.8 active chambers pernesting structure (Hyman and Pruett-Jones1995). Explanations for the smaller nest structuresizes in the Parko Scholis Chorofylakis Dimotikomay be due to the smaller size or growthcomplexity of park Aleppo pine host trees.Monk Parakeets in Barcelona, Spain, stronglyfavored the construction of nesting structures inthe tallest Phoenix spp. palms even when therewere Aleppo pines present (Sol et al. 1997). It

may be possible that Aleppo pines in this parkare not as suitable for construction of large,multi-chambered nest structures based uponthis preference. Alternatively, Monk Parakeetsmay only add additional chambers to a nestingstructure after the population becomes larger,when suitable nesting trees become lessavailable (Author speculation).

INDICATIONS OF DISEASE.

One pair feeding fledglings had multiple-clustered swollen pink and red-colored nodule-shaped lesions at the base of their bills indicat-ing chronic illness. These symptoms are often asign of avian pox (Pawar et al. 2010). Their closeproximity to a wide variety of captive domes-ticated and wild-caught bird species in thezoological garden aviaries and/or close contactwith areas where Rock Pigeons ground-foragemight have increased avian pox exposureand/or facilitated inter-species transmission(Pawar et al. 2010). Monk Parakeets also come inclose contact with feral Rock Pigeons in otherurban areas (Nores 2009), adding broaderrelevance to this finding. Species present in the

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FIGURE 2. A wild adult Monk Parakeet,photographed in Athens, showing nodule-like pinklesions at the base of the bill.

zoological garden aviaries included but werenot limited to: Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus),domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus),Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca), BurrowingParrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus), Rose-ringedParakeet (Psittacula krameri manillensis/ borealis),Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus); MonkParakeet, and Peach-faced Lovebird (Agapornisroseicollis). One Monk Parakeet in the aviaryexhibited similar nodule-shaped lesions at thebase of the bill identical to what wild individ-uals had. Since only Monk Parakeets (caged andwild) were seen to have such bill lesions out ofall the other captive bird species it is conceivablethat the ailment might be specific to parrots.

As well, psitticine beak and feather disease(PBFD) is important to consider whenencountering parrots that have skin, bill orfeather abnormalities; skin abnormalities aroundthe bill can be the first signs of PBFD (Ortiz-Catredral et al. 2010). PBFD is endemic toparrots and has been found in approximately 40captive and wild parrot species (Ortiz-Catredralet al. 2010). Wild Australasian and Africanspecies are most commonly infected but thetraffic in wild – caught parrots in the pet birdtrade have led to the proliferation of the diseasein parrot species from most geographic regions(Ortiz-Catredral et. al 2010). The virus causesweight loss, keratin structure defects (bill,feathers) (Kock et al. 2010) and the destructionof lymph material resulting in immune systemsuppression (Ritchie et al. 2003). The cause ofdeath is usually by secondary infection (Ritchieet al. 2003), though wild birds would probablysuccumb to predators or starvation first. Thatsaid, the wild and captive Monk Parakeets withthe bill lesions were in perfect plumage, had noabnormalities to the bill itself, and appeared tobe at normal weight and activity levels.Nonetheless, the presence of pox-likenodules/lesions in an adult reproducing pairallude to their ability to potentially serve as areservoir for disease in this locality, thoughfurther investigation is required to confirm thedisease agent causing the nodules/lesions.

DISCUSSIONPotential water and food resources may limitKatehaki Athens Monk Parakeet geographicdistribution to urban parks as in Spain (Sol et al.

1997). Nonetheless, they are successfullyreproducing and if the trend continues, theirnumbers will likely increase in the future. Thispopulation of Monk Parakeets, a significant newrecord for Greece, provides a unique opportu-nity to study the population growth and patternof range expansion of a species from its releasepoint. Additionally, this study is, to the author’sknowledge, one of the first documentingpotential chronic disease in reproducing,naturalized Monk Parakeets.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThanks to Elina Tsavdari for introducing me toKatehaki, Athens.

REFERENCESDIEERI, S., AND M. ERIK. 2009. Establishment success of

invasive Ring-necked and Monk Parakeets inEurope. Journal of Biogeography 36:2264-2278.

FOUNDA, D., K.H. PAPADOPOULOS, M. PETRAKIS, C.GIANNAKOPOULOS, AND P. GOOD. 2004. Analysis ofmean, maximum and minimum temperature inAthens from 1897 to 2001 with emphasis on thelast decade trends, warm events, and cold events.Global Planet Change. 44:27-38.

GOOGLE INC. 2010. Google Earth (Version 6.0.3.2197)[Software]

HYMAN, J., AND S. PRUETT-JONES. 1995. Natural historyof the Monk Parakeet in the Hyde Park, Chicago.Wilson Bulletin 107:510-517.

KOCK, R.A., M.H. WOODFORD, AND P.B. ROSSITER. 2010.Disease risks associated with the translocation ofwildlife. Review of Science and Technology 29:329-350

MARTELLA, M.B. 1985. Observaciones sobre el compor-tamiento de la cotorra Myiopsitta monachus conespecial enfasis en la comunicacion sonora. PhDdissertation, Universidad Nacional of CórdobaUniversity, Cordoba, Argentina.

MARTIN, L.F., AND E.H. BUCHER. 1993. Natal dispersionand first breeding age in Monk parakeets. Auk110:932.

MEAN MONTHLY PRECIPITATION ATHENS, GREECE. 2009.World weather and climate information. [online](2010-2011) Available at: http://www.weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-precipitation-Rainfall,Athens,Greece [Accessed 10 October2011].

NAVARRO, J.L., M.B. MARTELLA, AND E.H. BUCHER. 1992.Breeding season and productivity of MonkParakeets in Cordoba, Argentina. Wilson Bulletin104:413-424.

MONK PARAKEETS IN GREECE

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NORES, M. 2009. Use of active Monk Parakeet nests byCommon Pigeons and response by the host.Wilson Bulletin 121:812-815.

ORTIZ-CATEDRAL, L., B. KURENBACH, M. MASSARO, K.MCINNES, D.H. BRUNTON, M.E. HAUBER, D.P. MARTIN,AND A. VARSANI. 2010. A new isolate of beak andfeather disease virus from endemic wild red-fronted parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) inNew Zealand. Archives of Virology 155:613–620.

PAWAR, R.M., S.S. BHUSHAN, A. POORNACHANDAR, U.LAKSHMIKANTAN, AND S. SHIVAJI. 2011. Avian poxinfection in different wild birds in India. EuropeanJournal of Wildlife Research 57:785-793.

RITCHIE, P.A., I.L. ANDERSON, AND D.M. LAMBERT. 2003.Evidence for specificity of psittacine beak andfeather disease viruses among avian hosts.Virology 306:109-115.

RUNDE, D.E., AND W.C. PITT. 2008. Maui's Mitredparakeets, Aratinga mitrata. 'Elepaio 68: 1-4 (Part 1).

SARANTOPOULOS, A.D. 1977. World weather/climateextremes archive. Europe: highest temperature.World Meteorological Organization via ArizonaState University. [online] Available at:http://wmo.asu.edu/europe-highest-temperature[Accessed 10 October 2011].

SOL, D., D.M. SANTOS, E. FERIA, AND J. CLAVELL. 1997.Habitat selection by the Monk Parakeet during colo-nization of a new area in Spain. Condor 99:39-46.

WEATHERS, W.W., AND D.F. CACCAMISE. 1975.Temperature regulation and water requirements ofthe Monk Parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus. Oecologia18:329-342.

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HABITAT LOSS OF CRITICALLY ENDANGEREDVULTURES IN NAMERI NATIONAL PARK-ASSAM1

NIRANJAN DAS2

North-East Center for Social Science ResearchMurhateteli, Tezpur-784001District-Sonitpur (Assam)

Abstract. Assam, comprising the eastern Himalayas, is one of the Mega bio-diversityhotspots of the world. It forms part of two bird areas, viz. eastern Himalaya and Assamplains, with many endemic species. Nameri National Park is a part of the North BankLandscape (NBL) of Brahmaputra River bordering Assam and Arunachal Pradesh asestablished by the World Wildlife Fund; it also is a part of the Eastern Himalayan Bio-diversity Hotspot and habitat of resident and migratory bird. There are 374 avian species(resident and migratory) recorded in Nameri National Park. This includes, as reported inthe International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, four CriticallyEndangered vultures: White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Slender-billed Vulture(Gyps tenuirostris), Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) and Long-billed Vulture (Gypsindicus). The paper highlighted the present status of birds of prey in Nameri National Parkand the adjoining areas.

Key words: Critically endangered vultures, diclofenac, Himalyas

PERDIDA DE HABITAT DE BUITRES CRITICAMENTE AMENAZADOS EN ELPARQUE NACIONAL NAMERI, ASSAM, INDIA

Resumen. Assam, junto los Himalayas orientales, es uno de los mega hotspots debiodiversidad del mundo. Forma parte de dos áreas avifaunísticas, el Himalaya oriental ylas llanuras de Assam, con numerosas especies endémicas. El Parque Nacional Nameriforma parte del Paisaje de la Rivera Norte (North Bank Landscape, NBL) del ríoBrahmaputra que bordea Assam y Arunachal Pradesh tal y como determinó el WorldWildlife Fund. También forma parte del Hotspot de Biodiversidad del Himalaya Oriental ycontiene hábitats para aves residentes y migratorias. Hay 374 especies de aves (residentes ymigratorias) registradas en el Parque Nacional Nameri. La lista incluye, tal y como sereporta en la Lista Roja de la UICN, cuatro especies de buitre críticamente amenazadas:buitre dorsiblanco bengalí (Gyps bengalensis), buitre picofino (Gyps tenuirostris), buitrecabecirrojo (Sarcogyps calvus), y buitre piquilargo (Gyps indicus). El artículo presenta elestado actual de las aves de presa en el Parque Nacional Nameri y áreas aledañas.

Palabras clave: India, buitres en peligro crítico, diclofenaco, Himalayas

____________________1Received 28 June 2012; accepted 6 December 20122E-mail address: [email protected], [email protected]

INTRODUCTIONNameri National Park (Latitude 26º50’/ to

27º03’/ N and Longitude 92º39’ to 92º59’ E)covers an area of 200 km2 in the foothills of theeastern Himalayas in Assam. It is contiguous

with Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary in ArunachalPradesh to the north, and together they exceed1,000 km2 with elevations ranging from 79 toover 1,500 meters. The park is bounded by theBor-Dikorai River and Sijussa Camp in the east.

NIRANJAN DAS

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Its western border aligns with the Jia-BhoreliRiver and is adjacent to Balipara Reserve Forest,while its northern border is contiguous withPakhui Wildlife Sanctuary of ArunachalPradesh. The southern border is marked by theconfluence of Jia-Bhoreli and Bor-Dikorai rivers.The park is criss-crossed by the tributaries of Jia-Bhoreli riverincluding Diji, Dinai, Doigurung,Nameri, Dikorai, Khari.

The terrain is undulating, with lower areas atelevation between 80–100 m along the Jia-Bhoreli and its tributaries, and with higher areasat 200–225 m in the central and northern parts ofthe park. Soils are characterized by sandy orsandy loam alluvial deposits. Numerous smallrivers and perennial streams originating inArunachal Pradesh run through the park andfeed into the Jia-Bhorelli River. Many rivers shifttheir course during the rainy season and formdry riverbeds during the winter. Forest andwoodland cover the majority of the park (94%,188 km2). Grasslands are found along the banksof the Jia-Bhoreli River and its tributaries andcover an area of 10 km2 (5%). The remaining 2km2 (1%) is formed by various river beds.Nameri is covered by Tropical Evergreen, Semi-Evergreen, Moist Deciduous forests with caneand bamboo brakes and narrow strips of opengrassland along rivers. Grasslands comprise<10% of the total area of the park, while theSemi-Evergreen and Moist Deciduous speciesdominate the area. The vegetation of the park isa mosaic of four major forest types (Championand Seth 1968): (1) Eastern Alluvial SecondarySemi-Evergreen Forest (2) Low AlluvialSavannah Woodland (3) Eastern Dillenia SwampForest and (4) Wet Bamboo Forest (usuallyfound along streams or on badly drainedhollows), with areas of cane brakes formed byCalamus tenuis. The subtropical monsoon climateof the region is characterised by heavy rainfall,averaging of 3,500 mm per annum. Thepredominance of the southwest monsoon causesprecipitation to be highly seasonal (Barthakur1986). Most of the rain falls between May andSeptember, i.e. the summer (hot) season. Winters(October to April) are usually cool and dry,although rains are not uncommon. The averagetemperature in the area varies from a low of 5ºCin winter to a high of 37ºC in summer. Therelative humidity varies between 65 and 90% ormore. Parts of the area were declared as Naduar

Reserve Forest (Present East Buffer) in 1876 andNameri Wildlife Sanctuary in 1985. The NameriNational Park was formed in1998.

Pollution, drainage, habitat destruction,hunting and collection of eggs and nestlings aresome of the causes that threaten the birds withextinction in the park and vicinity (Datta et al.1998). Another major cause is poisoning bydiclofenac, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory veterinary drug (NSAID) thatcauses kidney failure in birds upon eating thecarcasses of treated cattle. In India, 99% ofvulture species population decreases is thoughtto be due to poisoning by diclofenac. Thesefactors also play an important role in decreasingthe number of the park’s avian species, whichwere abundant in earlier decades.

There are 374 species of resident andmigratory birds that so far have been identifiedin Nameri National Park (Das 2010).

Many of the species are resident, non-migratory owing to its cover by primary foresthaving multi-season fruit bearing trees(Dymond 1998). Included are four criticallyendangered vultures as described below (seealso Table 1 and Figure 1).

WHITE-RUMPED VULTURE (GYPSBENGALENSIS)

It is an Old World vulture closely related to theEurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus). At onetime it was believed to be closer to the White-backed Vulture of Africa and was known as theOriental White-backed Vulture.

The White-rumped Vulture is a typical,medium-sized vulture, with an unfeatheredhead and neck, very broad wings, and short tailfeathers. It is much smaller than the EurasianGriffon. It has a white neck ruff. The adult'swhitish back, rump, and underwing covertscontrast with the otherwise dark plumage. Thebody is black and the secondaries are silverygrey. The head is tinged in pink and bill issilvery with dark ceres. The nostril openings areslit-like. In flight, the adults show a dark leadingedge of the wing and has a white wing-lining onthe underside. The undertail coverts are black.This is the smallest of the Gyps vultures, but isstill a very large bird. It weighs 3.5-7.5 kg (7.7-16.5 lbs), measures 75–93 cm (30–37 in) in length,and has a wingspan of 1.92–2.6 m (6.3–8.5 ft).

White-rumped Vultures always nest on large

HABITAT LOSS OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED VULTURES IN NAMERI NATIONAL PARK-ASSAM

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TABLE 1. Summary of information about vultures in Nameri National Park.

Species IUCN Status Habitat Notes

White-rumped Vulture Critically Endangered S, G, D, A This species was recorded seven times, (CR) usually involving 2–3 birds, mostly seen

soaring. When 10 wild elephants (Elephas maximus) died in the area due to poisoning during July–August 2001, no vultures were seen on the carcasses.

Long-billed Vulture Critically Endangered S, G, D, A Between 2001 to 2002, this species was record-(CR) ed five times, usually involving 2–3 birds,

mostly seen soaring over Dharikati village.Slender-billed Vulture Critically Endangered S, G, D, A It was not observed during 1996, but small

(CR) flocks of up to six birds were seen 4–5 timesa year during 1997–2001, mainly between November and March. None has been seen since 2001.

Red-headed Vulture Critically Endangered S, G, D, A Singles were seen soaring at Potasali on 16 (CR) April 2002 and feeding on a carcass along the

Khari River on 10th July in the same year.

S = Secondary forest (with an open canopy regenerating naturally after human and/or natural disturbance)G = Grasslands (various serial stages of riverine vegetation including short grass on sandy islets through to

areas being colonised by trees)D = Disturbed areas (cultivation, settlements etc. in the fringe areas of the park)A= Aerial

FIGURE 1. The four critically endangered vultures in Nameri National Park.

Red Headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) Slender-Billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)

White Rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) Long Billed Vulture (Gyps indicus)

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trees near habitations even when there areseemingly appropriate cliffs in the vicinity. Thepreferred nesting trees are Bhelu (Tetramelesnudiflora), Satiana (Alstonia scholaris), Bon jalakia(Cryptocarya amygdalina), Urium (Bischofiajavanica), Bola (Morus laevigata), Madar(Erythrina suberosa) (Hendriks, 1998). The mainnesting period is November to March with eggsbeing laid mainly in January. Nests are usuallyin clusters and isolated nests tend to be those ofyounger birds. Solitary nests are never usedregularly and are sometimes taken over by theRed-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) and largeowls such as Bubo coromandus. Nests are nearly 1m in diameter and 0.3 m in thickness. Prior tolaying an egg, the nest is lined with greenleaves. The single egg is white with a tinge ofbluish-green. Females are reported to destroythe nest on loss of an egg. They are usually silentbut make hissing and roaring sounds at the nestor when jostling for food

This species was very common when surveyswere conducted during 1995-2000, especially inthe Gangetic plains of India and was often seennesting on the avenue trees within large cities inthe region. This species, as well as the IndianVulture (Gyps indicus) and Slender-billed Vulture(Gyps tenuirostris) have suffered a 99%population decrease in India and nearbycountries since the early 1990s. The decline hasbeen widely attributed to poisoning bydiclofenac, as discussed above

The Indian White-rumped Vulture is mostlyresident. Like other vultures it is a scavenger,feeding mostly on carcasses of dead animals(Penhallurick 2001). In Nameri National Parkbetween 1996 and 1998, this species wasrecorded seven times, usually involving 2–3birds. When ten wild elephants died in the areadue to poisoning during July–August 2001, novultures were seen on the carcasses (Baruah,2004). Their absence is noteworthy andpresumably related to the catastrophic decline ofGyps vultures in the Indian subcontinent.

LONG-BILLED VULTURE (GYPS INDICUS)

It is an Old World vulture, closely related to theGriffon Vulture. It breeds mainly on hilly cragsin central and peninsular India. The birds in thenorthern part of its range once considered asubspecies are now considered to be distinct, theSlender-billed Vulture. These were lumped

together under the name Long-billed Vulture.Two races remain: Gyps indicus indicus found innorthern India and further east, and Gyps indicustenuirostris found in the plains of the Indus andGanges rivers. Two individuals of the nominalrace were seen during 2007 in the Bogijuli areaof the park near high forest (Singh 1991).

This species breeds mainly on cliffs, but isknown to use trees in Rajasthan. Like othervultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly fromcarcasses of dead animals, which it finds bysoaring over savannah and around humanhabitation. They often move in flocks.

The Long-billed Vulture is a typical vulture,with a bald head, very broad wings and shorttail feathers. It has suffered a 99% populationdecrease in Pakistan and India; between 2000-2007 annual decline rates of this species and theSlender-billed Vulture averaged >16%. Thecause of this has been identified as poisoning bythe veterinary drug diclofenac.

RED-HEADED VULTURE (SARCOGYPSCALVUS)

Red-headed Vulture, also known as the AsianKing Vulture, Indian Black Vulture orPondicherry Vulture, is an old world vultureonce found throughout South Asia. The rangehas become localized primarily to Nepal andnorthern, north-eastern India. The widespreaduse and subsequent poisoning by the drugdiclofenac, along with carprofen, flunixin,ibuprofen and phenylbutazone, has caused itspopulation to collapse. The population of thisspecies has essentially halved every other yearsince the late 1990s. What once was a plentifulspecies numbering in the hundreds ofthousands has come dangerously close toextinction in less than two decades. Aa fewindividuals exist within the park.

It is a medium-sized vulture, 76 - 86 cm (30 to34 in) in length, weighing 3.5–6.3 kg (7.7–14 lb)and having a wingspan of 1.99–2.6 m (6.5–8.5 ft).The adult has a prominent deep red-to-orangenaked head, which is paler among juveniles. Ithas a black body with pale grey band at the baseof flight feathers.

SLENDER-BILLED VULTURE (GYPSTENUIROSTRIS)

The Slender-billed Vulture is a recentlyrecognized species of old world vulture. It was

NIRANJAN DAS

once included with its relative, the IndianVulture, under the name of ‘Long-billedVulture’. However, these two species have non-overlapping distributions and can beimmediately told apart by trained observers,even at considerable distances. The IndianVulture is found only to the south of the Gangesand breeds on cliffs, while the Slender-billedVulture is found along the Sub-Himalayanregions and into Southeast Asia. It nests in trees.

This vulture is mostly grey with a pale rumpand grey under-tail coverts. The thighs havewhitish down. It is rare, with most records beingof soaring birds. Small flocks of up to six birdswere seen 4–5 times a year during 1997–2001near Potasali, 14th mile area of the park, mainlybetween November and March. None has beenseen since 2001, again presumably linked to thegeneral decline of Gyps vultures (Talukdar andDas 1997).

The population of this species and the IndianVulture has declined by 97% and in India annualdecline rates for both species averaged over 16%between 2000-2007. Wild populations remain innorthern and eastern India through southernNepal and Bangladesh, with a small populationin Burma. The Royal Society for the Protection ofBirds (RSPB) estimated the Slender-billedVulture to number about 1,000 birds in 2009, andpredicts total extinction in the wild within thenext decade.

Its decline is largely due to the use oftdiclofenac in working farm animals, especiallyin India.

CONCLUSIONVeterinary use of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac is a major causeof the catastrophic collapse of Gyps vulturepopulations in the Indian subcontinent. Threespecies of vultures endemic to South Asia,which together used to number in the tens ofmillions, are now at high risk of extinction andare listed as critically endangered. Populationsof Oriental white-backed (Gyps bengalensis),long-billed (Gyps indicus) and slender-billedvultures (Gyps tenuirostris) have declined by

more than 95% since the early 1990s, andcontinue to decline at an annual rate of 22-48%.

Diclofenac is a widely available drug in theIndian subcontinent, where it is used for thesymptomatic treatment and management ofinflammation, fever, and/or pain associatedwith disease or injury in domestic livestock.Vultures are exposed to the drug when theyconsume carcasses of cattle that were treatedwith diclofenac shortly before death. Followingexperimental exposure to diclofenac ordiclofenac-contaminated tissues, Gyps vulturesdie within days from kidney failure with clinicalsigns of extensive visceral gout (formation ofuric acid crystals within tissue). These clinicalsigns and diclofenac residues in vulture tissueshave been found in carcasses of wild Gypsvultures from across India, Pakistan, and Nepal,and the proportion of vulture carcasses withsigns of diclofenac poisoning is consistent withthis being the main, and possibly the only, causeof the vulture decline in Nameri National Parkand adjoining areas of Assam.

REFERENCESBARTHAKUR, M. 1986. Weather and climate of North-

east India. North-Eastern Geographer 18:31-32.DATTA, A., P. SINGH, R. M. ATHREYA AND S. KARTHI-

KEYAN. 1998. Birds of Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary inwestern Arunachal Pradesh, North-East India.Newsletter for Birdwatchers 38:39-43.

DYMOND, N. 1998. List of Birds seen in NameriNational Park: 25–27 November 1998. Un-published Trip Report, Nameri National Park.

DAS, N. 2010. The Birds of Nameri National Park,Assam-India: An Annotated Checklist. BirdPopulations 10:37-55.

HENDRIKS, H. 1998. Birds seen in North-Eastern India.Unpublished Trip Report, Nameri National Park.

PENHALLURICK, J. 2001. Birds seen in Assam duringApril 2001. Unpublished field notes.

SING, P. 1991. Avian and mammalian evidences inPakhui Wildlife Sanctuary in East KamengDistrict, Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal ForestNews 9:1–10.

TALUKDAR, B. K. AND R. K. DAS. 1997. Record of birdsof prey in Nameri Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam.Newsletter for Birdwatchers 37: 50–51


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WATERBIRD ASSEMBLAGE IN RURAL PONDS OFSAMAKHIALI REGION, KUTCH DISTRICT,

GUJARAT, INDIA1

A. MOHAMED SAMSOOR ALI2, S. RAMESH KUMAR AND P. R. ARUN

Division of Environmental Impact AssessmentSálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON),

Anaikatty, Coimbatore- 641108, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract. Waterbird species richness was investigated in five rural ponds of Samakhialiregion, Kutch District, Gujarat. During September 2011 - May 2012, a total of 53 species ofwaterbirds from 14 families were recorded. Out of these, 30 were residents and 23 werewinter visitors. Among the bird species recorded, Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), PaintedStork (Mycteria leucocephala), Oriental White Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Black-tailedGodwit (Limosa limosa) and Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) are listed as NearThreatened by IUCN, indicating the importance of these ponds. It is expected that thisstudy would provide a preliminary database for the waterbirds of this area useful forfurther research and assessment.

Key words: India, Gujarat, near threatened waterbird species, rural ponds

COMUNIDAD DE AVES ACUATICAS EN LAGUNAS RURALES DE LA REGION DE SAMAKHIALI, DISTRITO KUTCH, GUJARAT, INDIA

Resumen. La diversidad de especies de aves acuáticas fue investigada en cinco lagunasrurales de la región Samakhiali, Distrito Kutch, Gujarat. Entre septiembre de 2011 y mayode 2012, fueron registradas un total de 53 especies de aves acuáticas de 14 familias. Deéstas, 30 fueron residentesy 23 visitantes invernales. Entre las especies registradas seencuentran la anhinga común (Anhinga melanogaster), tántalo indio (Mycteria leucocephala),ibis oriental (Threskiornis melanocephalus), aguja colinegra (Limosa limosa) and zarapito real(Numenius arquata), todas listadas como amenazadas por la UICN, lo que indica la importancia deestas lagunas. Esperamos que este estudio aporte una base de datos preliminar sobre las avesacuáticas de esta área que sea útil para investigación y manejo en el futuro.

Palabras clave: India, Gujarat, aves acuáticas amenazadas, lagunas rurales

____________________1Received 28 June 2012; accepted 11 February 20132Corresponding author, e-mail address: [email protected]

INTRODUCTIONHuman civilizations have typically beenfounded around water bodies, mainly on thebanks of rivers and lakes, with ponds oftenconstructed nearby. Depending on size, artificialimpoundments often eventually supportvarious flora and fauna including birds. Birdsare one of the most important indicators of thehealth of ecosystems such as rural ponds,

because they respond to both secondary andprimary factors and can be monitored relativelyeasily (Koskimies 1989). Also, because of theirmobility, birds react very rapidly to changes intheir habitats (Louette et al. 1995).

Wetlands are among the world’s mostproductive and biologically diverse ecosystems(Gibbs 1993). Wetlands and waterbirds areinseparable, and most wetlands support a rich

WATERBIRDS OF SAMAKHIALI REGION

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array of waterbird communities representing thebreadth of trophic levels (Grimmett and Inskipp2007). Activities of waterbirds are oftenconsidered an indicator of wetland ecosystemquality and those species at or near the top of thefoodweb can reflect changes originating among arange of ecosystem components (Custer andOsborne 1977). Various ponds and otherwetlands in any area serve as a balancingreservoir for sustaining native flora and fauna(Grimmett and Inskipp 2007, Surana et al. 2007).The present work attempt a cataloguing ofwaterbirds that inhabit rural ponds of Samakhialiregion of Bhachau Taluk, Kutch District, Gujarat,India (Fig. 1). Systematic avian surveys are rare inthis area.

MATERIALS AND METHODSObservations were made at five rural ponds,and are located as follows (Fig. 1): ‘SamakhialiPond’ at latitude 23°18' 25˝N and longitude70°30' 23˝E, covering about 1.51 km2; ‘AmblialaPond’ at 23°15' 01˝N and 70°29' 32˝E, covering1.83 km2; ‘Laliana Pond’ at 23°16' 09˝N and70°32'32˝E, covering 1.92 km2; ‘Jangi Pond 1’ at

23°13'32˝N and 70°34' 03˝E, covering 0.32 km2;and ‘Jangi Pond 2’ at 23°13' 27˝N and 70°33'55˝E,covering 1.56 km2. These ponds are surroundedby human habitations and agricultural fields.Local people use these ponds for their domesticand livelihood needs.

The wetlands were visited twice monthly,September 2011 - May 2012, and waterbirds werecounted directly (Bibby et al. 2000). Morningvisits occurred between 06:00 and 08:00hrs andthose in evening between 16:00 and 18:00hrs(Namgail et al. 2009). For watching, countingand species identification, observations wereaided by binoculars. Photography was doneusing a digital camera with zoom lenses. Thebirds were identified by their characteristicfeatures in accordance with standard identifica-tion manuals and field guides, e.g. Ali andRipley (1983), Kazmierczak (2000) and Grimmettet al. (2001). The checklist of species wasprepared following the nomenclature ofManakadan and Pittie (2001; Table 1)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONA total of 53 species of waterbirds belonging to

FIGURE 1. Locations of ponds studied, Gujarat, India.

TABLE 1. Checklist of waterbirds in rural ponds of Samakhiali region, Kutch District, Gujarat, duringSeptember 2011 to May 2012.

Scientific Name Common Name Statusa

FAMILY PODICIPEDIDAE1 Tachybaptus ruficollis (Pallas, 1764) Little Grebe ResidentFAMILY PHALACROCORACIDAE 2 Phalacrocorax niger (Vieillot, 1817) Little Cormorant Resident3 Phalacrocorax fuscicollis (Stephens, 1826) Indian Shag Winter Visitor4 Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758) Great Cormorant Winter VisitorFAMILY ANHINGIDAE 5 Anhinga melanogaster (Pennant, 1769) Darter ResidentFAMILY ARDEIDAE 6 Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) Little Egret Resident7 Ardea cinerea (Linnaeus, 1758) Grey Heron Resident8 Ardea purpurea (Linnaeus, 1766) Purple Heron Resident9 Casmerodius albus (Linnaeus, 1758) Large Egret Resident10 Mesophoyx intermedia (Wagler, 1829) Median Egret Resident11 Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) Cattle Egret Resident12 Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832) Indian Pond Heron Resident13 Butorides striatus (Linnaeus, 1758) Little Green Heron Resident14 Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus, 1758) Black-crowned Night Heron ResidentFAMILY CICONIIDAE 15 Mycteria leucocephala (Pennant, 1769) Painted Stork Resident16 Anastomus oscitans (Boddaert, 1783) Asian Openbill-Stork Winter VisitorFAMILY THRESKIORNITHIDAE 17 Plegadis falcinellus (Linnaeus, 1766) Glossy Ibis Resident18 Threskiornis melanocephalus (Latham, 1790) Oriental White Ibis Resident19 Pseudibis papillosa (Temminck, 1824) Black Ibis Resident20 Platalea leucorodia (Linnaeus, 1758) Eurasian Spoonbill ResidentFAMILY PHOENICOPTERIDAE21 Phoenicopterus ruber (Linnaeus, 1758) Greater Flamingo Winter VisitorFAMILY ANATIDAE 22 Dendrocygna javanica (Horsfield, 1821) Lesser Whistling Duck Resident23 Sarkidiornis melanotos (Pennant, 1769) Comb Duck Resident24 Anas poecilorhyncha (J.R. Forester, 1781) Spot-billed Duck Resident25 Anas clypeata (Linnaeus, 1758) Northern Shoveller Winter Visitor26 Anas querquedula (Linnaeus, 1758) Gargany Winter Visitor27 Anas crecca (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Teal Winter VisitorFAMILY GRUIDAE 28 Grus virgo (Linnaeus, 1758) Demoiselle Crane Winter VisitorFAMILY RALLIDAE 29 Amaurornis phoenicurus (Pennant, 1769) White-breasted Waterhen Resident30 Porphyrio porphyrio (Linnaeus, 1758) Purple Moorhen Resident31 Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Moorhen Resident32 Fulica atra (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Coot ResidentFAMILY CHARADRIIDAE 33 Charadrius dubius (Scopoli, 1786) Little Ringed Plover Resident34 Charadrius alexandrines (Linnaeus, 1758) Kentish Plover Resident35 Vanellus malabaricus (Boddaert, 1783) Yellow-wattled Lapwing Resident36 Vanellus indicus (Boddaert, 1783) Red-wattled Lapwing ResidentFAMILY RECURVIROSTRIDAE 37 Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758) Black-winged Stilt ResidentFAMILY SCOLOPACIDAE 38 Limosa limosa (Linnaeus, 1758) Black-tailed Godwit Winter Visitor

A. MOHAMED SAMSOOR ALI, S. RAMESH KUMAR AND P. R. ARUN

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6 orders and 14 families were seen among thefive rural ponds (Table 1). Included were fiveNear Threatened (IUCN 2012) species, namely,Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), Painted Stork(Mycteria leucocephala), Oriental White Ibis(Threskiornis melanocephalus), Black-tailed Godwit(Limosa limosa) and Eurasian Curlew (Numeniusarquata) (Fig. 2); Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalealeucorodia), additionally, is included in Schedule -I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.The dominant families, Ardeidae and Scolopa-cidae, were represented by 9 and 10 speciesrespectively. The most dominant order,Charadriiformes, was represented by a widerange of species including lapwings, plovers,sandpipers, gulls and terns; the next mostrepresented order, Ciconiformes, included egrets,herons, storks, ibis and spoonbills (Fig. 3).

Out of these 53 species, 30 (56.6%) wereresidents and 23 (43.4%) were winter visitors.The significant number of winter migratorywaterbirds can be attributed partly to the factthat the study area is located close to the major,western Indian migratory avian flyway(Khacher 1996). Prominent winter migratoryspecies included Greater Flamingo (Phoenicop-terus ruber), Gargany (Anas querquedula),Common Teal (Anas clypeata), NorthernShoveller (Anas crecca), Demoiselle Crane (Grusvirgo), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa),

Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus), MarshSandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), Green Sandpiper(Tringa ochropus), Wood Sandpiper (Tringaglorioles), Eurasian Curlew (Numenaus arquata),Little Stint (Calidris minuta), Pallas’s Gull (Larusichthyaetus) and Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)(Table 1). One highlight of the study was therecord of around 1,200 migratory DemoiselleCranes (Grus virgo) at Laliana Pond duringDecember 2011. Demoiselle Cranes, basicallybirds of dry grasslands, are the second mostabundant crane species in this part of the world.India is the wintering ground for the DemoiselleCrane, which travels from northern parts ofAsia, Magnolia and China covering over 2000km in 5 to 7 days to inhabit wetlands andagricultural fields in India.

Some of the species like Little Grebe(Tachybagptus ruficollis), Little Cormorant(Phalacrocorax niger), Little Egret (Egrettagarzetta), Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis), IndianPond Heron (Ardeola grayii), Painted Stork(Mycteria leucocephala), Black Ibis (Pseudibispapillosa), Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha),Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus), Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) andCommon Coot (Fulica atra) were recordedthroughout the study period in all the ponds.For some species, there were only one or tworecords, namely, Darter (Anhinga melanogaster),

39 Numenaus arquata (Linnaeus, 1758) Eurasian Curlew Winter Visitor40 Tringa erythropus (Pallas, 1764) Spotted Redshank Winter Visitor41 Tringa totanus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Redshank Winter Visitor42 Tringa stagnatilis (Bechstein, 1803) Marsh Sandpiper Winter Visitor43 Tringa ochropus (Linnaeus, 1758) Green Sandpiper Winter Visitor44 Tringa glorioles (Linnaeus, 1758) Wood Sandpiper Winter Visitor45 Xenus cinereus (Guldenstadt, 1774) Terek Sandpiper Winter Visitor46 Actitis hypoleucos (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Sandpiper Winter Visitor47 Calidris minuta (Leisler, 1812) Little Stint Winter VisitorFAMILY LARIDAE 48 Larus ichthyaetus (Pallas, 1773) Pallas’s Gull Winter Visitor49 Sterna hirundo (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Tern Winter Visitor50 Sterna aurantia (J.E. Gray, 1831) River Tern Resident51 Sterna albifrons (Pallas, 1764) Little Tern Winter Visitor52 Gelochelidon nilotica (Gmelin, 1789) Gull-billed Tern Winter Visitor53 Chlidonias hybridus (Pallas, 1811) Whiskered Tern Winter Visitor

aGrimmett et al. (2001)

TABLE 1. Continued.

Scientific Name Common Name Status


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FIGURE 2. Near threatened bird species recorded at the rural ponds studied; photos: A. MohamedSamsoor Ali

Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)

Oriental White Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)


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Asian Openbill-Stork (Anastomus oscitans),Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), LittleRinged Plover (Charadrius dubius), SpottedRedshank (Tringa erythropus), Eurasian Curlew(Numenaus arquata), Little Stint (Calidris minuta)and Common Tern (Sterna hirundo).

The wetland dependent birds such as SmallBlue Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), White-breastedKingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), Lesser PiedKingfisher (Ceryle rudis), Common Swallow(Hirundo rustica), Red-rumped Swallow(Hirundo daurica), Large Pied Wagtail (Motacillamaderaspatensis) and Yellow Wagtail (Motacillaflava) were also seen around the ponds. Thetree species of Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica,Ficus benghalensis, Prosopis juliflora, Phoenixsylvestris and Pongamia pinnata found at thebanks of the ponds gave shelter and roostingsites to doves, koel, bulbuls, babblers andparakeets. Human habitations around thevillage ponds also supported large number ofIndian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), Blue RockPigeon (Columa livia) and House Sparrow(Passer domesticus), which often fed on grainsscattered by local people.

A number of anthropogenic pressures affectthe ponds and their avifauna. Water from theponds is used for domestic purposes, as well ascattle crazing and bathing; predatory dogs are adisturbance as well. On the other hand, theoccurrence of waterbirds indicates the healthystatus of these rural ponds providing water,safe habitat and essential nesting/ roostingsites. The ponds also support fishes,amphibians, molluscs, aquatic insects and theirlarvae, all of which are a good food source forwaterbirds. As water depth, quality andtrophic structure are the important habitatcharacteristics that influence the abundanceand diversity of waterbirds in ponds, propermaintenance of these ponds would furtherincrease the waterbird populations.

The results of this study highlight the impor-tance of rural ponds as a habitat for waterbirdsincluding migratory species as well as specieswith conservation priorities. The results alsopoint towards the need for conserving waterbirdpopulations in rural wetlands and associatedlandscapes. However, further research shouldidentify seasonal and interannual patterns of

FIGURE 3. Waterbird richness, by taxonomic order, among of the rural ponds studied.

abundance as well as the physio-chemicalparameters, food availability and other wetlandcharacteristics that potentially affect thesepatterns. This would ultimately result in betterunderstanding of the population dynamics andecology of waterbirds of our rural landscapes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe are grateful to the Director, SACON, and toGenting Energy Ltd, for use of facilities andsupport.

REFERENCESALI, S., AND S. D. RIPLEY. 1983. Handbook of the Birds

of India and Pakistan (Compact Edition).University Press, Bombay, India.

BIBBY, C. J., D. A. HILL, N. D. BURGESS, AND S. MUSTOE.2000. Bird census techniques. Academic Press,London.

CUSTER, T. W., AND R. G. OSBORNE. 1977. Wading birdsas biological indicators: 1975 Colony Survey. USFish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC.

GIBBS, J. P. 1993. The importance of small wetlands forthe persistence of local populations of wetland-associated animals. Wetlands 13:25-31.

GRIMMETT, R., AND T. INSKIPP. 2007. Birds of SouthernIndia. Om Books International, New Delhi.

GRIMMETT, R., C. INSKIPP, AND T. INSKIPP. 2001. PocketGuide of the Birds of the Indian subcontinent.Oxford University Press. New Delhi.

KAZMIERCZAK, K. 2000. A field Guide to the Birds ofIndia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal Bhutan,Bangladesh and the Maldives. Om Book Service,New Delhi.

KHACHER, L. 1996. The birds of Gujarat - a Salim Alicentenary overview. Journal of Bombay NaturalHistory Society 93:331-373.

KOSKIMIES, P. 1989. Birds as a tool in environmentalmonitoring. Annales Zoologici Fennici 26:153-166.

LOUETTE, M., L. BIJNENS, A. D. UPOKI AGENONG, AND R.C. FOTSO. 1995. The utility of birds as bioindica-tors: case-studies in Equatorial Africa. BelgianJournal of Zoology 125:157-165.

MANAKADAN, R., AND A. PITTIE. 2001. Standardizedcommon and scientific names of the birds of theIndian continent. Buceros - ENVIS Newsletter 6:1-37.

NAMGAIL, T., D. MUDDAPPA, AND T. R. S. RAMAN. 2009.Waterbird numbers at high altitude lakes ineastern Ladakh, India. Wildfowl 59:137-144.

SURANA, R., B. R. SUBBA, AND K. P. LIMBU. 2007. Aviandiversity during rehabilitation stage of ChimdiLake, Sunsari, Nepal. Our Nature 5:75-80.

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AVIFAUNA OF THE OUSSUDU LAKE AND ITSENVIRONS, PUDUCHERRY, INDIA AND

CONSERVATION CONCERNS1

M. MURUGESAN, RACHNA CHANDRA, B. ANJAN KUMAR PRUSTY2 AND P. R. ARUN

Environmental Impact Assessment Division,Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON),

Anaikatti (PO), Coimbatore – 641108, India

Abstract. Herein we present a checklist, including conservation status of the avifauna ofOussudu (Ousteri) Lake and its environs, Puducherry, India. Surveys were conducted at 15d intervals between November 2010 and March 2011. A total of 166 bird species of 111genera and 56 families were recorded in and around the lake. Of these, 75 species wereaquatic; 120 species were resident and 46 species were migratory. The present investigationadded 6 families, 12 genera and 27 species to the existing avifaunal list of Oussudu. Thelake is undergoing serious pressures due to rapid urbanization, weed infestation, dischargeof industrial effluents, developmental activities, industrialization, uncontrolled fishing,hunting and poaching. The present study advocates for an urgent and stringentmanagement plan and necessary implementation mechanism for the lake.

Key words: Avifauna conservation, IBA, NWCP, Oussudu Lake, Puducherry, wetlands

AVIFAUNA DEL LAGO OUSSUDU Y SUS ALREDEDORES, PUDUCHERRY, INDIA, Y PROBLEMATICA DE CONSERVACION

Resumen. Presentamos una lista que incluye el estado de conservación de la avifauna delLago Oussudu (Ousteri) y sus zonas aledañas, en Puducherry, India. Los muestreos seefectuaron en intervalos de 15 días entre noviembre de 2010 y marzo de 2011. Un total de166 especies de aves de 111 géneros y 56 familias. De éstas, 75 especies fueron acuáticas,120 especies fueron residentes, y 46 migratorias. El presente trabajo añadió 6 familias, 12géneros y 27 especies a la lista existente de Oussudu. El lago está sometido a grandespresiones debidas a la urbanización, infestación vegetal, descarga de residuos industriales,actividades de desarrollo, industrialización, pesca incontrolada, caza y furtivismo. Elpresente estudio aboga por la implementación urgente de un estricto plan de manejo parael lago.

Palabras clave: conservación de avifauna, IBA, NWCP, Lago Oussudu, Puducherry,humedales

____________________1Received 6 May 2013; accepted 21 September 20132E-mail address: [email protected]

INTRODUCTIONIn India, wetlands occupy an estimated 15.26million hectares, which is ~4.6% of the geo-graphical area of the country (SAC 2011). Thesewetlands harbor hundreds of bird species,including both resident and migratory species.

Of the 1340 bird species reported from India (Aliand Ripley 1987; Manakadan and Pittie 2004),310 species are dependent on wetlands (Kumaret al. 2005). Wetlands in India, as elsewhere, areunder tremendous anthropogenic pressures,which greatly influence the structure of bird

M. MURUGESAN, RACHNA CHANDRA, B. ANJAN KUMAR PRUSTY AND P. R. ARUN

[20]

communities (Kler 2002, Verma et al. 2004,Reginald et al. 2007). Water birds have longattracted the attention of the public andscientists because of their beauty, abundance,visibility and social behaviour, as well as fortheir recreational and economic importance. Inaddition, water birds have become indicators ofwetland quality and parameters for assessingrestoration success and regional biodiversity(Kumar and Gupta 2009). Wetlands in urbanareas are usually exploited due to severalanthropogenic activities. However, suchactivities often lead to alteration of the wetlandto which, in turn, the avifauna responds bychanges in species composition and density.

The Government of India has been imple-menting the National Wetlands ConservationProgramme (NWCP) in close collaboration withthe State/UT Governments since the year 1985-1986. The programme aims at the conservationof wetlands to prevent their further degradationand to ensure their judicious use for the benefitof local communities and overall conservation ofbiodiversity. Under this programme, theMinistry of Environment and Forests hasidentified 115 wetlands that require urgentconservation and management interventions.

Puducherry, well known for aquatic habitats,has a total of 82 major and minor wetlands inand around the town, and among themOussudu and Bahour are the major ones. Thesewetlands provide livelihood for the residentsaround the region in the form of agriculturalproduce, fish, fuel, fiber, fodder, and host ofother day-to-day necessities. Oussudu is thelargest lake in the Puducherry region and ishome to hundreds of bird species includingseveral migratory ones that flock in largenumbers. It is also one of the largest breedingsites for the Common Coot (Fulica atra) inSouth India (Chari and Abbasi 2003, Abbasiand Chari 2008). The lake is also known for avariety of fishes, mussels and crabs (Chari andAbbasi 2003). However, recently the lake andits surroundings are facing increased threatsand pressures from several anthropogenicactivities (encroachment, poaching andpollution) as well as from rapid urbanizationsand infrastructure developments in theimmediate vicinity of the lake. In that context,the present investigation was carried out inorder to determine the bird community

structure of the lake and discuss a potentialmanagement plan.

METHODS

STUDY AREA

Oussudu Lake, located at 11°56’ to 11°58’ Nand 79°44’to 79°45’E, is a large shallowwetland situated along the eastern boundaryof Puducherry, India (Figure 1). It is the mostimportant fresh-water lake of the Puducherryregion, and is 12 km from Puducherry town onthe Western side on Puducherry-Villupuram-Valuthavur main road. The lake is rich in floraand fauna and is known to provide severalecological services, as well as severallivelihood options for the local humancommunity. It is an inter-state lake with awatershed area of 800 ha, and is almost equallyshared between Puducherry (390 ha) and TamilNadu (410 ha; Alexander and Pusharaj 2010).Much of the Oussudu bank along the TamilNadu side consists of rural settlements, whilethe Pondicherry side is predominantly urbanor suburban (Abbasi and Chari 2008), causingmuch stress on the lake. The lake is largely fedby direct precipitation, runoff from thecatchment and an intermittent river, theShankarabharani. Several tanks and pondssurround Oussudu (important ones listed inTable 1).

In the recent past, Oussudu Lake wasidentified as a wetland of national importanceunder the National Wetland ConservationProgramme of the Ministry of Environment andForest (MoEF 2009), India. The Bombay NaturalHistory Society (BNHS), Mumbai, a member ofBirdlife International, has designated Oussuduas an Important Bird Area (IBA) of India; over20,000 birds belonging to nearly 40 migratoryspecies used to inhabit or winter at Oussudu(Chari and Abbasi 2003). The Asian WetlandBureau declared Oussudu Lake as one of the 115significant wetlands in Asia. It also has beenidentified as a heritage sites by IUCN (Inter-national Union for Conservation of Nature andNatural Resources), ranking it among the mostimportant wetlands of Asia. During 2008, theGovernment of Puducherry declared OussuduLake as a bird sanctuary.

The climate in and around Oussudu Lake is

AVIFAUNA OF THE OUSSUDU LAKE AND ITS ENVIRONS, PUDUCHERRY, INDIA AND CONSERVATION CONCERNS

[21]

humid and tropical. Benefiting from bothmonsoons, the average annual rainfall ofOussudu and its surrounding region is 1300mm, of which ~60% occurs during north-eastmonsoon from September-January (Chari andAbbasi 2003). The remainder of rainfall isscattered sporadically throughout the year. Themean monthly temperature ranges from 21.3°Cto 30.2°C. The lake’s water level fluctuates

seasonally and in certain years (rainlessmonths), the lake may dry out completely. Dueto such wide hydrological fluctuations acrossthe annual cycle, different niches are created inthe lake, resulting in interesting patterns of floraand fauna (Abbasi 1997). There are patches ofamphibious and aquatic vegetation in thenorthern portion of the lake, and these supportspawning fish and roosting birds.

TABLE 1. Major tanks around the Oussudu Lake, Puducherry.

Sl. No. Name of the Tank/Eri Capacity (Mm3)

1 Thondamanatham tank 0.342 Ariyur tank 0.043 Kadaperi eri 0.164 Karasur tank 0.345 Sedarapet Periya eri 0.426 Sedarapet Sitheri 0.137 Thuthipet tank 0.278 Katteriputhu Thangel 0.129 Kateripazham Thangal 0.17

FIGURE 1. Location of Oussudu Lake, Puducherry.


[22]

METHODOLOGY The birdlife communities in and around thestudy area were documented by directobservations (Bibby et al. 1992), random walkand opportunistic surveys. Observations weremade during October 2010 through March 2011in seven intensive surveys. Surveys wereconducted systematically every fortnight,walking on fixed routes through the study area.Birds were observed during 06:00 h – 10:00 hand 16:00 h – 19:00 h following the line-transectmethod (Burnham et al. 1980, Bibby et al. 1992).Observations were carried out on both sides oftransect with the help of 7 x 35 and 10 x 50 mbinoculars. In total, 15 such transects were laidin and around the study area. We recorded birdspecies along with habitat type, season andfrequency of occurrence. In addition, oppor-tunistic surveys were also carried out.Identification of birds was done using Ali andRipley (1987) and Grimmett et al. (1998, 2001);nomenclature followed Manakadan and Pittie(2004). The status of birds (Table 1) wascategorized as Resident (R), Migratory (M),Aquatic (A) and Terrestrial (T) as per Grimmettet al. (2001). Bird abundance was based on thefollowing criteria: common, >10 sightings; fairlycommon, 6-10 sightings; uncommon, 3-5sightings; and rare, 1-2 sightings.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONIn total, 166 bird species belonging to 111 generaand 56 families were recorded during the studyperiod (Table 2). Accipitridae was the dominantfamily with 13 species, followed by Ardeidaeand Scolopacidae with 11 species each, andAnatidae (10 species). Among the 166 birdspecies recorded, 75 were aquatic and the restwere terrestrial. About 120 species were residentbreeding and the rest were migratory. Thepresent study added 6 families, 12 genera and 27species to the existing avifaunal list of Oussudu(Table 2). Of the 166 species recorded, linetransects resulted in documentation of 135 avianspecies (Table 2), of which, Little Egret (Egrettagarzetta) was dominant with 355 individuals,followed by Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)with 338 individuals, Asian Palm-Swift(Cypsiurus balasiensis) with 337 individuals,White-headed Babbler (Turdoides affinis) with 282individuals and Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola

grayii) with 245 individuals. Eight species falling under the Near

Threatened category, and one each of CriticallyEndangered species and Endangered species(IUCN 2007), were recorded during the studyperiod (Table 2). Of the 166 species recorded, 15species fall under Schedule-I as per IndianWildlife Protection Act (IWPA 1972). ThoughPainted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), AsianOpen bill-Stork (Anastomus oscitans), NorthernShoveller (Anas clypeata), Northern Pintail (Anasacuta), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), CommonTeal (Anas crecca), Garganey (Anas querquedula),and Common Pochard (Aythya ferina) were verycommonly recorded by Chari et al. (2008), werarely sighted in our study.

CONSERVATION CONCERNS AND MEASURES

Oussudu plays a vital role in recharging theground water aquifers for Puducherry andprotecting them from seawater ingress;Puducherry is largely dependent on theseaquifers for its drinking water supply (Chariand Abbasi 2007). In recent times, however, thelake and its watershed has been exposed toenormous pressures due to increasing pop-ulation, industrialization and urbanization. Theserious threats include reclamation, agriculture,siltation, weed invasion, poaching, etc. Weedspecies such as Eichorrnia crassipes, Salviniamolesta, Pistia stratiotes and Ipomoea carnea havebeen invading the wetland area of Oussudu.Almost 14% of the lake is infested by Eichorniacrassipes (Water hyacinth). Thus, infestation byweeds is a serious issue that could directly affectthe biodiversity of the lake and water quality.Apart from aquatic weeds, Prosopis juliflora isalso present along the roadside. Removal of thisspecies is of utmost importance as it invadesother wetlands at much higher rates (Chandra etal. 2009).

Fishing in the area has become a routinepractice, which if unchecked could soon resultin cultural (rapid) eutrophication, siltation, andultimate death of the lake. The diversity of fishspecies in the lake attracts people for fishing.While the Government of Puducherry hasbanned fishing in Oussudu Lake, uncontrolledfishing was often seen in the lake during thesurveys. Unbridled fishing activity using fishingnets has led to the killing of water snakes and

TAB

LE

2. L

ist o

f bir

d s

peci

es o

bser

ved

in a

nd a

roun

d O

ussu

du

Lak

e

Sl.

IUC

N

IWPA

N

o.Fa

mily

Com

mon

nam

eSc

ient

ific

nam

eH

abit

atSt

atus

stat

usSt

atus

Abu

ndan

ce

1Po

dic

iped

idae

Lit

tle

Gre

beTa

chyb

aptu

s ru

ficol

lisA

RL

CS-

IVC

2.

Pele

cani

dae

*Gre

at W

hite

Pel

ican

Pel

ecan

us o

nocr

otal

usA

ML

CS-

IVR

e3.

Sp

ot-b

illed

Pel

ican

Pel

ecan

us p

hilip

pens

isA

RN

TS-

IVU

C4.

Ph

alac

roco

raci

dae

Lit

tle

Cor

mor

ant

Pha

lacr

ocor

ax n

iger

AR

LC

S-IV

C5.

In

dia

n Sh

agP

hala

croc

orax

fusc

icol

lisA

RL

CS-

IVC

6.

Gre

at C

orm

oran

tP

hala

croc

orax

car

boA

RL

CS-

IVC

7.

Anh

ingi

dae

Dar

ter

Anh

inga

mel

anog

aste

rA

RN

TS-

IVU

C8.

A

rdei

dae

L

ittl

e E

gret

Egr

etta

gar

zett

aA

RL

CS-

IVC

9.

Gre

y H

eron

Ard

ea c

iner

eaA

RL

CS-

IVU

C10

. Pu

rple

Her

onA

rdea

pur

pure

aA

RL

CS-

IVU

C11

. L

arge

Egr

etC

asm

erod

ius

albu

sA

RL

CS-

IVC

12.

Med

ian

Egr

etM

esop

hoyx

inte

rmed

iaA

RL

CS-

IVC

13.

Cat

tle

Egr

etB

ubul

cus

ibis

AR

LC

S-IV

C14

. In

dia

n Po

nd H

eron

Ard

eola

gra

yii

AR

LC

S-IV

C15

. L

ittl

e G

reen

Her

onB

utor

ides

str

iatu

sA

RL

CS-

IVC

16.

Bla

ck-c

row

ned

Nig

ht H

eron

Nyc

tico

rax

nyct

icor

axA

RL

CS-

IVU

C17

. B

lack

Bit

tern

Dup

etor

flav

icol

lisA

RL

CS-

IVU

C18

. G

reat

Bit

tern

Bot

auru

s st

ella

ris

AM

LC

S-IV

UC

19.

Cic

oniid

aePa

inte

d S

tork

Myc

teri

a le

ucoc

epha

laA

RN

TS-

IVU

C20

. A

sian

Ope

nbill

-Sto

rkA

nast

omus

osc

itan

sA

RL

CS-

IVFC

21.

Whi

te-n

ecke

d S

tork

Cic

onia

epi

scop

usA

RL

CS-

IVR

e22

. T

hres

kior

nith

idae

Ori

enta

l Whi

te Ib

isT

hres

kior

nis

mel

anoc

epha

lus

AR

NT

S-IV

Re

23.

Bla

ck Ib

isP

seud

ibis

pap

illos

aA

RL

CS-

IVR

e24

. E

uras

ian

Spoo

nbill

Pla

tale

a le

ucor

odia

AR

NT

S-I

Re

25.

Phoe

nico

pter

idae

*Gre

ater

Fla

min

goP

hoen

icop

teru

s ru

ber

AM

LC

S-IV

Re

26.

*Les

ser

Flam

ingo

Pho

enic

opte

rus

min

orA

MN

TS-

IVR

e27

. A

nati

dae

Cot

ton

Teal

Net

tapu

s co

rom

ande

lianu

sA

RL

CS-

IVC

28.

Eur

asia

n W

igeo

nA

nas

pene

lope

AM

LC

S-IV

C29

. M

alla

rdA

nas

plat

yrhy

ncho

sA

ML

CS-

IVU

C30

. Sp

ot-b

illed

Duc

kA

nas

poec

ilorh

ynch

aA

RL

CS-

IVU

C31

. N

orth

ern

Shov

elle

rA

nas

clyp

eata

AM

LC

S-IV

UC

32.

Nor

ther

n Pi

ntai

lA

nas

acut

aA

ML

CS-

IVU

C33

. G

arga

ney

Ana

s qu

erqu

edul

aA

ML

CS-

IVC

34.

Com

mon

Tea

lA

nas

crec

caA

ML

CS-

IVC


[23]

TAB

LE

2. C

onti

nued

Sl.

IUC

N

IWPA

N

o.Fa

mily

Com

mon

nam

eSc

ient

ific

nam

eH

abit

atSt

atus

stat

usSt

atus

Abu

ndan

ce

Pod

icip

edid

ae35

. U

nid

enti

fied

Duc

kA

nas

sp.

AM

L

C-

FC36

. C

omm

on P

ocha

rdA

ythy

a fe

rina

AM

LC

S-IV

Re

37.

Acc

ipit

rid

aeB

lack

-sho

uld

ered

Kit

eE

lanu

s ca

erul

eus

TR

LC

S-I

UC

38.

Bla

ck K

ite

Milv

us m

igra

nsT

RL

CS-

IC

39.

Bra

hmin

y K

ite

Hal

iast

ur in

dus

TR

LC

S-I

C40

. *W

hite

-bel

lied

Sea

Eag

leH

alia

eetu

s le

ucog

aste

rA

RL

CS-

IR

e41

. *C

rest

ed S

erpe

nt E

agle

Spilo

rnis

che

ela

TR

LC

S-I

Re

42.

Wes

tern

Mar

sh H

arri

erC

ircu

s ae

rugi

nosu

sA

ML

CS-

IC

43.

Palli

d H

arri

erC

ircu

s m

acro

urus

TM

NT

S-I

UC

44.

Pied

Har

rier

Cir

cus

mel

anol

euco

sT

ML

CS-

IU

C45

. Sh

ikra

Acc

ipit

er b

adiu

sT

ML

CS-

IU

C46

. B

esra

Spa

rrow

haw

kA

ccip

iter

vir

gatu

sT

ML

CS-

IU

C47

. B

lack

Eag

leIc

tina

etus

mal

ayen

sis

TR

LC

S-I

UC

48.

Pand

ioni

dae

*Osp

rey

Pan

dion

hal

iaet

usT

ML

CS-

IR

e49

. Fa

lcon

idae

Com

mon

Kes

trel

Falc

o ti

nnun

culu

sT

RL

CS-

IR

e50

. Ph

asia

nid

aeG

rey

Fran

colin

Fran

colin

us p

ondi

ceri

anus

TR

LC

S-IV

C51

. In

dia

n Pe

afow

lP

avo

cris

tatu

sT

RL

CS-

IR

e52

. R

allid

aeW

hite

-bre

aste

d W

ater

hen

Am

auro

rnis

pho

enic

urus

AR

LC

S-IV

UC

53.

Purp

le M

oorh

enP

orph

yrio

por

phyr

ioA

RL

CS-

IVC

54.

Com

mon

Moo

rhen

Gal

linul

a ch

loro

pus

AR

LC

S-IV

C55

. C

omm

on C

oot

Fulic

a at

raA

RL

CS-

IVC

56.

Jaca

nid

aePh

easa

nt-t

aile

d Ja

cana

Hyd

roph

asia

nus

chir

urgu

sA

RL

CS-

IVC

57.

*Bro

nze-

win

ged

Jaca

naM

etop

idiu

s in

dicu

sA

RL

CS-

IVR

e58

. C

hara

dri

idae

Gre

y Pl

over

Plu

vial

is s

quat

arol

aA

ML

CS-

IVR

e59

. L

ittl

e R

inge

d P

love

rC

hara

driu

s du

bius

AM

LC

S-IV

Re

60.

Yello

w-w

attl

ed L

apw

ing

Van

ellu

s m

alab

aric

usA

RL

CS-

IVC

61.

*Gre

y-he

aded

Lap

win

gV

anel

lus

cine

reus

AM

LC

S-IV

Re

62.

Red

-wat

tled

Lap

win

gV

anel

lus

indi

cus

AR

LC

S-IV

C63

. Sc

olop

acid

aeC

omm

on S

nipe

Gal

linag

o ga

llina

goA

ML

CS-

IVC

64.

Com

mon

Red

shan

kTr

inga

tota

nus

AM

LC

S-IV

Re

65.

Gre

en S

and

pipe

rTr

inga

och

ropu

sA

ML

CS-

IVC

66.

Woo

d S

and

pipe

rTr

inga

gla

reol

aA

ML

CS-

IVC

67.

Com

mon

San

dpi

per

Act

itis

hyp

oleu

cos

AM

LC

S-IV

C68

. #

Spoo

nbill

San

dpi

per

Cal

idri

s py

gmeu

sA

MC

ES-

IVR

e69

. L

ittl

e St

int

Cal

idri

s m

inut

aA

ML

CS-

IVFC


[24]

TAB

LE

2. C

onti

nued

Sl.

IUC

N

IWPA

N

o.Fa

mily

Com

mon

nam

eSc

ient

ific

nam

eH

abit

atSt

atus

stat

usSt

atus

Abu

ndan

ce

Pod

icip

edid

ae70

. *D

unlin

Cal

idri

s al

pina

AM

LC

S-IV

Re

71.

Cur

lew

San

dpi

per

Cal

idri

s fe

rrug

inea

AM

LC

S-IV

UC

72.

Bro

ad-b

illed

San

dpi

per

Lim

icol

a fa

lcin

ellu

sA

ML

CS-

IVU

C73

. *R

uff

Phi

lom

achu

s pu

gnax

AM

LC

S-IV

Re

74.

Rec

urvi

rost

rid

aeB

lack

-win

ged

Sti

ltH

iman

topu

s hi

man

topu

sA

RL

CS-

IVFC

75.

Lar

idae

Riv

er T

ern

Ster

na a

uran

tia

AR

NT

S-IV

C76

. B

lack

-nap

ed T

ern

Ster

na s

umat

rana

AM

LC

S-IV

C77

. C

omm

on T

ern

Ster

na h

irun

doA

ML

CS-

IVC

78.

Bla

ck-b

ellie

d T

ern

Ster

na a

cuti

caud

aA

ME

NS-

IVC

79.

Whi

sker

ed T

ern

Chl

idon

ias

hybr

idus

AM

LC

S-IV

UC

80.

Bla

ck T

ern

Chl

idon

ias

nige

rA

ML

CS-

IVC

81.

Col

umbi

dae

Blu

e R

ock

Pige

onC

olum

ba li

via

TR

LC

S-IV

C82

. L

ittl

e B

row

n D

ove

Stre

ptop

elia

sen

egal

ensi

sT

RL

CS-

IVC

83.

Spot

ted

Dov

eSt

rept

opel

ia c

hine

nsis

TR

LC

S-IV

C84

. R

ed C

olla

red

-Dov

eSt

rept

opel

ia tr

anqu

ebar

ica

TR

LC

S-IV

C85

. Ps

itta

cid

aeR

ose-

ring

ed P

arak

eet

Psi

ttac

ula

kram

eri

TR

LC

S-IV

C86

. C

ucul

idae

Pied

-cre

sted

Cuc

koo

Cla

mat

or ja

cobi

nus

TR

LC

S-IV

C87

. *R

ed-w

inge

d C

rest

ed C

ucko

oC

lam

ator

cor

oman

dus

TM

LC

S-IV

Re

88.

Bra

infe

ver

Bir

dH

iero

cocc

yx v

ariu

sT

RL

CS-

IVC

89.

Dro

ngo

Cuc

koo

Surn

icul

us lu

gubr

isT

RL

CS-

IVU

C90

. A

sian

Koe

lE

udyn

amys

sco

lopa

cea

TR

LC

S-IV

C91

. Sm

all G

reen

-bill

ed M

alko

haP

haen

icop

haeu

s vi

ridi

rost

ris

TR

LC

S-IV

C92

. G

reat

er C

ouca

lC

entr

opus

sin

ensi

sT

RL

CS-

IVC

93.

Les

ser

Cou

cal

Cen

trop

us b

enga

lens

isT

RL

CS-

IVR

e94

. Ty

toni

dae

Bar

n O

wl

Tyto

alb

aT

RL

CS-

IVR

e95

. St

rigi

dae

Spot

ted

Ow

let

Ath

ene

bram

aT

RL

CS-

IVC

96.

Cap

rim

ulgi

dae

Com

mon

Ind

ian

Nig

htja

rC

apri

mul

gus

asia

ticu

sT

RL

CS-

IVU

C97

. A

pod

idae

Asi

an P

alm

-Sw

ift

Cyp

siur

us b

alas

iens

isT

RL

C-

C98

. H

ouse

Sw

ift

Apu

s af

finis

TR

LC

-C

99.

Hem

ipro

cnid

ae*C

rest

ed T

ree-

swif

tH

emip

rocn

e co

rona

taT

RL

C-

Re

100.

A

lced

inid

aeSm

all B

lue

Kin

gfis

her

Alc

edo

atth

isA

RL

CS-

IVC

101.

*S

tork

-bill

ed K

ingf

ishe

rH

alcy

on c

apen

sis

AR

LC

S-IV

Re

102.

W

hite

-bre

aste

d K

ingf

ishe

rH

alcy

on s

myr

nens

isA

RL

CS-

IVC

103.

*B

lack

-cap

ped

Kin

gfis

her

Hal

cyon

pile

ata

AR

LC

Re


[25]

TAB

LE

2. C

onti

nued

Sl.

IUC

N

IWPA

N

o.Fa

mily

Com

mon

nam

eSc

ient

ific

nam

eH

abit

atSt

atus

stat

usSt

atus

Abu

ndan

ce

Pod

icip

edid

ae10

4.

Les

ser

Pied

Kin

gfis

her

Cer

yle

rudi

sA

RL

CS-

IVU

C10

5.

Mer

opid

aeSm

all B

ee-e

ater

Mer

ops

orie

ntal

isT

RL

C-

C10

6.

Blu

e-ta

iled

Bee

-eat

erM

erop

s ph

ilipp

inus

TR

LC

-C

107.

C

hest

nut-

head

ed B

ee-e

ater

Mer

ops

lesc

hena

ulti

TR

LC

-C

108.

C

orac

iidae

Ind

ian

Rol

ler

Cor

acia

s be

ngha

lens

isT

RL

CS-

IVC

109.

U

pupi

dae

Com

mon

Hoo

poe

Upu

pa e

pops

TR

LC

S-IV

C11

0.

Cap

iton

idae

Whi

te-c

heek

ed B

arbe

tM

egal

aim

a vi

ridi

sT

RL

CS-

IVU

C11

1.

Cop

pers

mit

h B

arbe

tM

egal

aim

a ha

emac

epha

laT

RL

CS-

IVC

112.

Pi

cid

aeC

omm

on G

olde

n-ba

cked

Woo

dpec

ker

Din

opiu

m ja

vane

nse

TR

LC

S-IV

FC11

3.

*Les

ser

Gol

den

-bac

ked

Woo

dpe

cker

Din

opiu

m b

engh

alen

seT

RL

CS-

IVFC

114.

Pi

ttid

aeIn

dia

n Pi

tta

Pit

ta b

rach

yura

TR

LC

S-IV

Re

115.

A

laud

idae

*Ben

gal B

ush-

Lar

kM

iraf

ra a

ssam

ica

TR

LC

S-IV

Re

116.

A

shy-

crow

ned

Spa

rrow

-Lar

kE

rem

opte

rix

gris

eaT

RL

CS-

IVR

e11

7.

Hir

und

inid

ae*C

omm

on S

wal

low

Hir

undo

rus

tica

TM

LC

-C

118.

H

ouse

Sw

allo

wH

irun

do ta

hiti

caT

RL

C-

C11

9.

Red

-rum

ped

Sw

allo

wH

irun

do d

auri

caT

RL

C-

C12

0.

Mot

acill

idae

Lar

ge P

ied

Wag

tail

Mot

acill

a m

ader

aspa

tens

isA

RL

CS-

IVC

121.

Ye

llow

Wag

tail

Mot

acill

a fla

vaA

ML

CS-

IVC

122.

G

rey

Wag

tail

Mot

acill

a ci

nere

aA

ML

CS-

IVC

123.

Pa

dd

yfie

ld P

ipit

Ant

hus

rufu

lus

TR

LC

S-IV

C12

4.

Cam

peph

agid

aeC

omm

on W

ood

shri

keTe

phro

dorn

is p

ondi

ceri

anus

TR

LC

S-IV

Re

125.

Py

cnon

otid

aeR

ed-v

ente

d B

ulbu

lP

ycno

notu

s ca

fer

TR

LC

S-IV

C12

6.

Whi

te-b

row

ed B

ulbu

lP

ycno

notu

s lu

teol

usT

RL

CS-

IVC

127.

Ir

enid

ae*C

omm

on Io

raA

egit

hina

tiph

iaT

RL

CS-

IVC

128.

L

aniid

ae*B

ay-b

acke

d S

hrik

eLa

nius

vit

tatu

sT

RL

C-

FC12

9.

*Sou

ther

n G

rey

Shri

keLa

nius

mer

idio

nalis

TR

LC

-R

e13

0.

Turd

inae

Ori

enta

l Mag

pie-

Rob

inC

opsy

chus

sau

lari

sT

RL

CS-

IVFC

131.

In

dia

n R

obin

Saxi

colo

ides

fulic

ata

TR

LC

S-IV

C13

2.

Pied

Bus

chat

Saxi

cola

cap

rata

TR

LC

S-IV

C13

3.

Tim

aliin

ae*R

ufou

s-be

llied

Bab

bler

Dum

etia

hyp

eryt

hra

TR

LC

S-IV

UC

134.

*J

ungl

e B

abbl

erTu

rdoi

des

stri

atus

TR

LC

S-IV

UC

135.

W

hite

-hea

ded

Bab

bler

Turd

oide

s af

finis

TR

LC

S-IV

C13

6.

Sylv

iinae

*Fra

nklin

's P

rini

aP

rini

a ho

dgso

nii

TM

LC

S-IV

C13

7.

Jung

le P

rini

aP

rini

a sy

lvat

ica

TR

LC

S-IV

C


[26]

TAB

LE

2. C

onti

nued

Sl.

IUC

N

IWPA

N

o.Fa

mily

Com

mon

nam

eSc

ient

ific

nam

eH

abit

atSt

atus

stat

usSt

atus

Abu

ndan

ce

Pod

icip

edid

ae13

8.

Ash

y Pr

inia

Pr

inia

soc

ialis

T

RL

CS-

IVC

139.

Pl

ain

Prin

iaPr

inia

inor

nata

T

RL

CS-

IVC

140.

B

lyth

's R

eed

War

bler

Acr

ocep

halu

s du

met

orum

TM

LC

S-IV

UC

141.

C

omm

on T

ailo

rbir

dO

rtho

tom

us s

utor

ius

TR

LC

S-IV

C14

2.

Gre

enis

h L

eaf-

War

bler

Phy

llosc

opus

troc

hilo

ides

TM

LC

S-IV

UC

143.

M

onar

chin

aeA

sian

Par

adis

e-Fl

ycat

cher

Terp

siph

one

para

disi

TR

LC

S-IV

UC

144.

R

hipi

dur

inae

*Whi

te-b

row

ed F

anta

il Fl

ycat

cher

Rhi

pidu

ra a

ureo

laT

RL

CS-

IVR

e14

5.

Dic

aeid

aeT

hick

-bill

ed F

low

erpe

cker

Dic

aeum

agi

leT

RL

CS-

IVC

146.

Ti

ckel

l's F

low

erpe

cker

Dic

aeum

ery

thro

rhyn

chos

TR

LC

S-IV

UC

147.

N

ecta

rini

idae

Purp

le-r

umpe

d S

unbi

rdN

ecta

rini

a ze

ylon

ica

TR

LC

S-IV

C14

8.

Purp

le S

unbi

rdN

ecta

rini

a as

iati

caT

RL

CS-

IVC

149.

L

oten

's S

unbi

rdN

ecta

rini

a lo

teni

aT

RL

CS-

IVC

150.

E

stri

ldid

ae*

Whi

te-t

hroa

ted

Mun

iaLo

nchu

ra m

alab

aric

aT

RL

CS-

IVR

e15

1.

Spot

ted

Mun

iaLo

nchu

ra p

unct

ulat

aT

RL

CS-

IVC

152.

B

lack

-hea

ded

Mun

iaLo

nchu

ra m

alac

caT

RL

CS-

IVC

153.

Pa

sser

inae

Hou

se S

parr

owP

asse

r do

mes

ticu

sT

RL

CS-

IVR

e15

4.

Ploc

eina

eB

aya

Wea

ver

Plo

ceus

phi

lippi

nus

TR

LC

S-IV

C15

5.

Stur

nid

aeB

rahm

iny

Star

ling

Stur

nus

pago

daru

mT

RL

CS-

IVU

C15

6.

*Ros

y St

arlin

gSt

urnu

s ro

seus

TM

LC

S-IV

Re

157.

C

omm

on M

yna

Acr

idot

here

s tr

isti

sT

RL

CS-

IVC

158.

O

riol

idae

Eur

asia

n G

old

en O

riol

eO

riol

us o

riol

usT

RL

CS-

IVC

159.

*B

lack

-hea

ded

Ori

ole

Ori

olus

xan

thor

nus

TR

LC

S-IV

Re

160.

D

icru

rid

aeB

lack

Dro

ngo

Dic

ruru

s m

acro

cerc

usT

RL

CS-

IVC

161.

A

shy

Dro

ngo

Dic

ruru

s le

ucop

haeu

sT

ML

CS-

IVC

162.

W

hite

-bel

lied

Dro

ngo

Dic

ruru

s ca

erul

esce

nsT

RL

CS-

IVC

163.

A

rtam

idae

Ash

y W

ood

swal

low

Art

amus

fusc

usT

RL

C-

C16

4.

Cor

vid

aeIn

dia

n Tr

eepi

eD

endr

ocit

ta v

agab

unda

TR

LC

S-IV

C16

5.

Hou

se C

row

Cor

vus

sple

nden

sT

RL

CS-

IVC

166.

Ju

ngle

Cro

wC

orvu

s m

acro

rhyn

chos

TR

LC

S-IV

C

*: N

ew A

dd

itio

ns,

#:

Dou

btfu

l O

ccu

rren

ce (

no p

hoto

grap

h/ev

iden

ce),

A:

Aqu

atic

, T:

Ter

rest

rial

, M

: M

igra

tory

, R

: R

esid

ent,

CE

: C

riti

cally

End

ange

red

, E

N:

End

ange

red

, NT:

Nea

r T

hrea

tene

d, S

-I: S

ched

ule

I, S-

IV: S

ched

ule

IV, C

: Com

mon

, Re:

Rar

e, F

C: F

airl

y C

omm

on, U

C: U

ncom

mon


[27]


[28]

several aquatic birds (pelicans, coots, darters).Fishing also causes direct disturbance to birdsdue to reduced availability of fish species, someof which the birds consume as food. Aquaticplants such as Hydrilla verticillata, Najas minor,etc. are food for many birds of Oussudu. Duringfishing, these aquatic macrophytes entangle inthe fishing net, and thus are removed causingdisturbance and imbalance in the biodiversitycomposition of the lake.

Hunting of birds in and around the Oussudusanctuary is another important issue that needsattention. During the present study, we foundthat several families of the Narikuravacommunity (a tribe) were engaged in hunting ofbirds, which had become their chief source oflivelihood. There is an encroachment by ahamlet of around 15 families of Narikurava onVillianur-Pathukanu junction road. Thissettlement hunts several species of resident andmigratory aquatic birds. The birds such as AsianKoel (Endynomys scolopacea; state bird ofPuducherry), Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris),Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), White-breasted Water-hen (Amaurornis phoenicurus),Common Myna, Common Coot (Fulica atra),egrets, and cormorants were commonly huntedand sold for Rs. 150/- to Rs. 200/- per kg. Inorder to stop such hunting, alternative andappropriate sources of livelihood andemployment need to be found for thiscommunity.

The Suthukeni Canal is essentially the onlymeans of water movement / discharge ofsewage and storm water to the lake. It iscurrently a channel, into which considerablequantity of municipal and non-point sourceeffluents flow in. Rubber and glass industries,and the agricultural lands located aroundOussudu Lake release runoff water with variouschemicals into the lake. Several tanning andleather industries occur along the shores, withdisposal of effluent from these industries likelyaffecting the lake’s ecology. In addition, theagricultural fields around the lake contributesignificant amounts of N, P, and K fertilizers andpesticides through run-off. Such runoff canstimulate the growth of aquatic macrophytesand plankton, resulting in eutrophication.Heavy metals and several pesticides, as anoutcome of application of agrochemicals innearby agriculture fields, may bio-accumulate

(macrophytes to fishes, etc.) in the wetlandecosystem and ultimately affect the apex of thefood chain, i.e. birds.

It is apt that steps should be taken to bringadjoining parts of the lake under protection.Mechanisms to manage the area jointly by bothgovernments and people of Tamil Nadu andPuducherry need to be developed. In view ofthe present scenario with threats to its existenceand functioning, Oussudu sanctuary needsactive conservation and managementinterventions. It is also expected that Oussuduwould loose its ecological integrity, if propercoordinated efforts are not taken bymanagement authorities and non-governmentorganizations including the general public tosave this fragile wetland ecosystem. This mayinclude activities such as protection, preventionof encroachment and control of pollutingactivities, eco-restoration and initiating habitatimprovement programs.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe would like to thank Dr. P.A. Azeez, Director,Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and NaturalHistory (SACON) for encouragement andfacilities; Dr A. Anilkumar, Conservator ofForests, Puducherry Forest Division, Pudu-cherry, for logistics and constant support tocarry out the study. We greatly acknowledge thehelp from Mr P. Subramanian and Dr S.Bhupathy during the study period.

REFERENCESABBASI, S. A. 1997. Wetlands of India-Ecology and

Threats: The Ecology and the Exploitation ofTypical South Indian Wetlands. Vol. I. DiscoveryPublishing House, New Delhi. 149 pp.

ABBASI, S. A., AND K. B. CHARI. 2008. Environmentalmanagement of urban lakes: with special referenceto Oussudu. Discovery Publishing House, NewDelhi. 269 pp.

ALEXANDER, R., AND P. PUSHARAJ. 2010. Resettlement ofweaver birds (Ploceus philippinus) in OussuduLake. Current Science 99: 10.

ALI, S., AND S. D. RIPLEY. 1987. Compact handbook ofthe birds of India and Pakistan together with thoseof Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.Oxford University Press, Delhi.

BIBBY, C. J., N. D. BURGESS., AND D. A. HILL. 1992. BirdCensus Techniques. Academic Press Publishers.257 pp.


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BURNHAM, K. P., D. R. ANDERSON., AND J. L. LAAKE.1980. Estimation of density from line transectsampling of biological populations. WildlifeMonographs 72. 1-202 pp.

CHANDRA R., B. A. K. PRUSTY., AND P. A. AZEEZ. 2009.Impact of Prosopis juliflora on HerbaceousDiversity in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, p.09-13. In G. A. Thivakaran, A. Kumar, B. A. K.Prusty, and S. F. W. Sunderraj [eds.], Proceedingsof the National Symposium on Prosopis:Ecological, Economic Significance and Manage-ment Challenges, Gujarat Institute of DesertEcology, Bhuj, India. 115 pp.

CHARI, K. B., AND S. A. ABBASI. 2003. Ecology, habitatand bird community structure at Oussudu lake:towards a strategy for conservation andmanagement. Aquatic Conservation: MarineFreshwater Ecosystem 13: 373-86.

CHARI, K. B., AND S. A. ABBASI. 2007. Socio-economicimplications of the Oussudu lake (Pondicherry,India). Hydrology Journal 30: 77-90.

CHARI, K. B., S. A. ABBASI., AND S. GANAPATHY. 2008.Ecology, habitat and bird community structures atOussudu lake: Towards a strategy for conservationand management, p. 100-117. In S. A. Abbasi, andK. B. Chari [ed.], Environmental Management ofUrban Lakes with Special Reference to Oussudu.Discovery Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.

GRIMMETT, R., C. INSKIPP., AND T. INSKIPP. 1998. Birds ofthe Indian Subcontinent. Christoper HelmPublishers Ltd. London. 888 pp.

GRIMMETT, R., C. INSKIPP., AND T. INSKIPP. 2001. Pocketguide to the birds of the Indian subcontinent.Oxford University Press, Delhi. 384 pp.

IUCN. 2007. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.Version 2007.1. Electronic Database accessible athttp://www.iucnredlist.org/. Captured on 20February 2007.

IWPA. 1972. Wildlife Protection Act. In: The Wildlife(Protection) Act, 1972. Professional BookPublishers, Wildlife Protection Society of India.

KLER, T. K. 2002. Bird species in Kanjali wetland. TigerPaper 39: 29-32.

KUMAR, A., J. P. SATI., P. C. TAK., AND J. R. B. ALFRED.2005. Handbook on Indian wetland birds and theirconservation. Zoological Survey of India. 472 pp.

KUMAR, P., AND S. K. GUPTA. 2009. Diversity andabundance of Wetland birds around Kurukshetra,India. Our Nature 7: 212-217.

MANAKADAN, R., AND A. PITTIE. 2004. Standardizedcommon and scientific names of the birds of theIndian subcontinent. Buceros 6: 1-37.

MOEF. 2009. National wetland conservationprogramme guidelines for conservation andmanagement of wetlands in India. Minsitry ofEnvironment & Forest, Govt. Of India, New Delhi.45 pp.

REGINALD, L. J., C. MAHENDRAN., S. S. KUMAR., AND P.PRAMOD. 2007. Birds of Singanallur Lake,Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Zoos’ Print Journal 22(12): 2944-2948.

SAC (2011). National Wetland Atlas. SpaceApplications Centre, Indian Space ResearchOrganization, Ahmedabad, India. 310 pp.

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Authors should submit one complete, double-spaced, electronic copy of each manuscript, inEnglish, to: David G. Ainley, Editor, Bird Populations, [email protected]. Please contactDavid G. Ainley at H.T. Harvey and Associates, 983 University Avenue, Bldg D, Los Gatos, CA95032, if you are unable to submit an electronic copy. Guidelines for preparing and submittingpapers to Bird Populations, including the format for literature citations, are similar to those of TheCondor and Studies in Avian Biology. Authors are urged to examine a recent volume of BirdPopulations and follow the niceties of the journal's style. All research papers and review articlessubmitted to Bird Populations are subject to peer review.

Bird Populations also publishes, reprints, and provides links to reports of major avian monitoringprograms from around the world. These reports are an important focus of the journal which isintended to serve as a yearbook on the status of the Earth's birdlife by bringing together, under asingle cover, information from many widespread localities on the annual and interim changes in theabundance, demographics, and distribution of birds. We believe that publishing, reprinting, andproviding links to these reports will draw attention in a timely manner to short-term avianpopulation fluctuations that may ultimately prove to be geographically widespread or that maysignal the beginnings of longer-term trends. We hope that the dissemination of these reports willprovide ornithologists with a global informational network for addressing avian populationchanges, will encourage an integrative global approach to avian monitoring studies, will stimulatethe establishment of additional avian monitoring programs, and ultimately will aid in theconservation of global avian diversity.

Any agency or organization from anywhere in the world coordinating or conducting a long-term,standardized avian monitoring program is invited to submit an annual (or longer time period)report of that program to Bird Populations for publication or reprinting. All reports submitted fororiginal publication will undergo peer review. Please submit one complete, double-spaced,electronic copy of any such report, in English, to David G. Ainley, Editor, Bird Populations,[email protected]. Already published reports submitted for reprinting will not be peerreviewed, but will be screened by the Editor when first submitted with regard to the scope andscientific merit of the monitoring program and the appropriateness of the methods and analyses.Please submit electronic copies of such reports, in English, to the Editor. Bird Populations also invitesthe authors of previously published annual or interim reports of standardized avian monitoringprograms to request that we provide an electronic link to their reports. Reports to which BirdPopulations will provide a link do not need to be in English, but we ask that the authors provide anEnglish translation of the abstract or summary. Reports to which we provide links will not be peerreviewed, but will be screened by the Editor when first submitted with regard to the scope andscientific merit of the monitoring program and the appropriateness of the methods and analyses.


Volume 12 2013

CONTENTS

FIRST ACCOUNT OF A NESTING POPULATION OF MONK PARAKEETS, MYIOPSITTA MONACHUS, WITH NODULE-SHAPED BILL LESIONS IN KATEHAKI, ATHENS, GREECE

Nicholas P. Kalodimos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1


Niranjan Das . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

WATERBIRD ASSEMBLAGE IN RURAL VILLAGE PONDS OF SAMAKHIALI REGION, KUTCH DISTRICT, GUJARAT, INDIA

A. Mohamed Samsoor Ali, S. Ramesh Kumar and P. R. Arun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

AVIFAUNA OF THE OUSSUDU LAKE AND ITS ENVIRONS, PUDUCHERRY, INDIA ANDCONSERVATION CONCERNS

M. Murugesan, Rachna Chandra, B. Anjan Kumar Prusty and P. R. Arun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Link – Bird Trends 2012: trends in numbers, breeding success and survival for UK breeding birds. (2013) Research Report 644. BTO, Thetford.

Stephen R. Baillie, John H. Marchant, David I. Leech, Dario Massimino, Sarah M. Eglington, Alison Johnston, David G. Noble, Carl Barimore, Allison J. Kew, Iain S. Downie, Kate Risely, and Rob A. Robinson . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – The (British) Breeding Bird Survey – 2011. The population trends of the UK’s breeding birds. (2012) BTO Research Report 624. British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford.

Kate Risely, Dario Massimino, Alison Johnston, Stuart E. Newson, Mark A. Eaton, Andy J. Musgrove, David G. Noble, Deborah Procter, and Stephen R. Baillie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – The (British) Breeding Bird Survey – 2012. The population trends of the UK’s breeding birds. (2013) BTO Research Report 645. British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford.

Kate Risely, Dario Massimino, Stuart E. Newson, Mark A. Eaton, Andy J. Musgrove, David G. Noble, Deborah Procter, and Stephen R. Baillie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – All of the (British) Breeding Bird Survey reports can be downloaded from here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – CES (Constant Effort Sites) News – 2011. Number 25 (2012).Greg Conway, Dave Leech and Allison Kew, Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – CES (Constant Effort Sites) News – 2012. Number 26 (2013).Dave Leech and Allison Kew, Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – All issues of the CES (Constant Effort Sites) News can be downloaded from here . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – 2011 NRS (Nest Records Scheme) preliminary report. (2012). British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – 2012 preliminary NRS (Nest Records Scheme) results. (2013) . British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – Waterbirds in the UK 2010/11: The Wetland Bird Survey (2012) BTO/RSPB/JNCC Thetford.

Chas A. Holt, Graham E. Austin, Neil A. Calbrade, Heidi J. Mellan, Richard D. Hearn, David A. Stroud, Simon R. Wotton, and Andy J. Musgrove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – All of the annual reports of the WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) can be downloaded from here . . . . . . n/a

Link – GBFS NEWS 2013. The newsletter for participants in the BTO Garden Bird Feeding Survey. Number 5 (July 2013) British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . n/a

Link – All issues of the GBFS (Garden Bird Feeding Survey) News can be downloaded from here . . . . n/a

bird populations...bird populationsis published in english with abstracts in spanish. bird...

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