Search

Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary is a Ramsar site located in Haryana, India, which falls in the Central Asian flyway zone of the migratory birds. Its diverse ecological resources sustain a rich diversity of migratory and threatened birds. The species diversity, threat status, population trend and feeding guild of the avifauna in Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary, Haryana, India, was explored from October 2021 to October 2023. The data was collected every fortnightly using the line transects method. A total of 129 bird species belonging to 98 genera, 47 families and 17 orders were recorded. Order Passeriformes, with 45 species in 20 families, dominated the avifauna, followed by Anseriformes with 16 species, Charadriformes with 12 species and the rest of 15 orders. Anatidae was the most dominant family representing 12.40% (n=16). Among the reported species, 81 were residents, 36 were winter migrants and, 10 were summer migrants and 2 were passage migrants. One species was endangered and vulnerable in the threat status, while six were classified as near threatened as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (INUC) Red List, 2022. The bird sanctuary also supported 35 bird species with a declining population trend globally. The omnivorous and carnivorous feeding habits were equally dominant, followed by insectivorous and, nectarivorous and herbivorous birds, which were the least numerous. The presence of both resident and migrant birds of global conservation priority confirms the importance and conservation of Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary as a rich avifauna diversity habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehing Patkai National Park, nestled in Assam's Upper Brahmaputra valley, features a distinctive lowland forest landscape dominated by Dipterocarpus trees, teeming with fauna encompassing reptiles, birds, and mammals. Avian surveys were conducted from October 2021 to September 2023 to document avifaunal diversity within and surrounding the park. Point-transect method was used. One-hundred-and-fifty-one species from 54 families were recorded, including 43 terrestrial and 11 aquatic bird families. One-hundred-and twenty-seven species were residents, 18 winter migrants, five summer migrants, and one was a local migrant. Habitat disturbance was assessed across five transects; undisturbed habitats in T1 and T2 showed the highest Shannon-Wiener diversity index, while moderately and highly disturbed habitats in T3, T4, and T5 exhibited lower diversity. The analysis revealed a significant positive correlation (p = 0.05) among different transects. A total of seven species (Ashy-headed Green Pigeon, Lesser Adjutant, White-cheeked Partridge, Alexandrine Parakeet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Austen's Brown Hornbill, and Oriental Darter) are classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened species; 12 species are in Schedule 1 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This investigation underscores Dehing Patkai National Park's significance as a sanctuary for diverse bird populations, including threatened and near-threatened species. The decline in bird populations in disturbed areas emphasizes the urgency of implementing effective conservation and management strategies within the park, alongside continued research and monitoring to support its unique avian ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmland bird populations have declined globally raising concerns over habitat loss for a wide range of species. In this study, we explored the significance of agroecosystems for birds at different temporal and spatial scales along the Cauvery delta region, South India. Our results recorded a wide range of 102 species, with passerines and wetland birds dominating the landscapes. Among the guild types, omnivores and insectivores were the well-represented groups followed by carnivores, granivores, frugivores, and nectarivores. Species richness and diversity were recorded higher during winter which could be associated with the maturing phase of rice paddies in the agroecosystem. There were significant differences recorded in species diversity and richness between the cropping period and the non-cropping periods, thus recognizing the high potential of paddy ecosystems in biodiversity conservation. The results of the multivariate analysis revealed that the diversity of birds in the agroecosystem was more influenced by the woody vegetation cover, crop cover, and field size; however, bird abundance was related to farm activities, plantations, and herbaceous cover surrounding the agroecosystem. Fewer generalist species revealed an interesting pattern of taxonomic homogenization with monoculture cropping patterns that could influence the adaptability and functional traits of the other species. The results of the study highlight that both HNV and the non-HNV zones attract a rich diversity of birds and the conservation of this traditional agricultural belt would aid in the conservation of threatened species and biodiversity globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of alarming global decline in bird species highlighted by the 2023 IUCN Red List and a parallel trend in India reported by the 2023 State of India’s Birds, this write-up explores the multifaceted threats posed by factors such as agriculture intensification, hunting and land degradation. Emphasizing the critical role of birds in ecosystems, the article delves into the complex motivations behind bird feeding, drawing attention to historical ecological imbalances resulting from misguided interventions. Proposing a solution, the authors advocate for the resurgence of millet cultivation as a sustainable agricultural practice, demonstrating its potential to enhance farmland bird population and promote biodiversity. The comprehensive nutritional and habitat benefit of millet fields for various bird species, underscores the potential for a harmonious coexistence of agriculture and avian conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss due to increasing anthropogenic disturbance is the major driver for bird population declines across the globe. Within the Eastern Ghats of India, shrubland bird communities are threatened by shrinking of suitable habitats due to increased anthropogenic disturbance and climate change. The development of an effective habitat management strategy is hampered by the absence of data for this bird community. To address this knowledge gap, we examined foraging sites for 14 shrubland bird species, including three declining species, in three study areas representing the shrubland type of forest community in the Eastern Ghats. We recorded microhabitat features within an 11 m radius of observed foraging points and compared these data with similar data from random plots. We used chi‐square to test the association between plant species and bird species for sites where they were observed foraging. We observed significant differences between foraging sites of all the study species and random plots, thus indicating selection for foraging habitat. Using linear discriminant analysis, we found that the microhabitat features important for the bird species were shrub density, vegetational height, vertical foliage stratification, grass height, and percent rock cover. Our results show that diet guild and foraging strata influence the foraging microhabitat selection of a species (e.g., ground‐foraging species differed significantly from other species). Except for two species, all focal birds were associated with at least one plant species. The plant‐bird association was based on foraging, structural, or behavioral preferences. Several key factors affecting foraging habitat such as shrub density can be actively managed at the local scale. Strategic and selective harvesting of forest products and a spatially and temporally controlled livestock grazing regime may allow regeneration of scrubland and create conditions favorable to birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A concept of retrieving and monitoring groundwater dynamics was introduced via metrics derived using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the basaltic region, namely the Euclidian distance between neighbouring irrigation wells, area irrigated per well, well density and cluster analysis. In a representative Nagjhari watershed (14823 ha) located in Maharashtra state, India, temporal Google Earth images were interpreted visually to retrieve the periodic (2007, 2013, 2017), historical dugout well related data. During the decade, the number of wells increased by 429 (64%) with a 7% decrease in irrigated area, implying a greater number of competing users, tapping the same aquifer leading to the increased cost of irrigation. In 2007, functional wells (368) outnumbered defunct wells (303). By 2017, the reversal was far greater with 698 defunct wells compared to 399 functional wells. Clusters of 5–10, 10–15, and >15 number of wells respectively with 500 m proximity showed a common trend of a rising number of defunct wells (303 to 698), a decline in the total irrigated area in the watershed (from 517 to 479 ha), and irrigated area per unit well (from 1.41 to 1.23 ha) accompanied by a decrease in inter-well distance from 250 to 110 m. The well density increased from 0.035 to 0.25 units per ha. Neural clustering proved effective in discovering and delineating an aquifer located between 310–330 m contour classes. Three 'hot spots' of high well density, lower inter-well distance, and irrigated area per well were mapped. Observation wells monitored by the Central Ground Water Board were located within 460 m from the functional wells raising concerns about their representative character. An alarming trend of the rising number of competing groundwater users, increasing demand but actual use limited by aquifer yield potential was noted with negative influence on well density, and investment of about INR 34.55 million wasted over a decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how a ban on the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), diclofenac, has led to a resurgence in south Asia's vulture populations. Topics include the collapse of vulture populations across the Indian subcontinent via the ingestion of the veterinary drug diclofenac from contaminated cattle carcasses, surveillance of diclofenac contamination of cow carcasses that showed little change in vulture populations, how coordinated efforts by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and governments, which led to further restrictions and remedial efforts, is making a difference, and trend analyses that suggest the vulture decline is slowing or has stopped in some areas.

The article presents the sighting record of Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis found in Lower Dibang Valley District in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The study shows the population decline of this species because of the loss of habitat and of hunting that restricted its distribution within the protected areas. It notes that the species can also be found in some of the unprotected river islands in the eastern part of the country.

In this article the author discusses declining bird populations in India. The author notes that planet Earth has lost over 190 bird species over a five hundred year period, arguing that global warming is causing the escalation of further extinctions. An overview of how India's lack of scientific base of knowledge in nature conservation is impacting bird conservation efforts and the decline of several species of vultures in India is presented.