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The seasonal pattern of species diversity and abundance of waterbirds of the Chambal River in the extent of Mukundra Hills National Park, Rajasthan, India was evaluated. The pre-monsoon (March-April 2021) and post-monsoon surveys (August-September 2021) were carried out using the direct count method with the help of a motorboat to monitor the population status of waterbirds. A total of 44 species of waterbirds belonging to 15 families and nine orders were identified, including 11 winter migratory species. Forty species of birds were recorded during pre-monsoon and 27 species during post-monsoon seasons. The species richness and relative abundance varied significantly between observed seasons (x2 = 532.77, df = 43, p <0.05). Breeding activities of three species were recorded, namely, Grey Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, and the 'Near Threatened' Woolly-necked Stork. The present study reveals the status of waterbirds in the protected area of Mukundra Hills National Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the occurrence of the migratory species Marecastrepera, commonly known as Gadwall from a freshwater pitlake of Eastern Coal Fields in India. Topics discussed include characteristics of gadwall, the abundance of Marecastrepera on small prairie marshes than in temporary water areas, and a threat to the water bird habitat.

Simple Summary: We studied the home ranges, movement, migration patterns, and habitat use of Common Cranes and Demoiselle Cranes using satellite telemetry. The average home ranges calculated in India were slightly greater than in their breeding areas. Common Crane-1 covered 12,982 km in 17 days to reach Russia. On the return journey, it covered a total distance of 14,873 km in 72 days. Common Crane-2 covered a total distance of 4500 km in 30 days to reach Kazakhstan. While returning to India, it covered 4922 km in 25 days. On the other hand, Demoiselle Crane-1 covered a total distance of 4968 km in 18 days during its northbound migration to Kazakhstan and 7394 km in 105 days to reach India. Demoiselle Crane-2 traveled a distance of 4310 km in 18 days to reach Kazakhstan and then made the return journey to India, covering a distance of 7757 km over a period of 128 days. Croplands and water bodies were the most important habitat variables influencing crane presence positively. The changing crop patterns from cereal grains to cotton, coupled with the shrinkage of water bodies within the study area, may raise concerns about their presence during winter in the near future. Using satellite telemetry, it is possible to track long-distance migrant birds with high accuracy and greater spatial coverage. However, prior to 2014, less than 1% of bird species in India had been monitored using this technology. Between January and February 2022, we deployed leg-mounted solar GPS/GSM satellite transmitters to Common Cranes and Demoiselle Cranes (two each) to study home ranges, movement, migration patterns, and habitat use. We used 95% kernels to define the total home range size and 50% kernels to delimit the core areas. The winter habitat use was assessed using Generalized Linear Models (GLM). The average home range of Common Cranes and Demoiselle Cranes was estimated as 161.22 ± 172.08 km2 and 971.40 ± 1023.57 km2, respectively. During migration, Common Crane-1 and Common Crane-2 traveled an average of 471.19 ± 442.42 and 176.97 ± 24.82 km per day, and Demoiselle Crane-1 and Demoiselle Crane-2 covered an average daily distance of 168.10 ± 203.77 and 192.97 ± 250.72 km, respectively. Water bodies and croplands were the most important habitat variables influencing crane presence positively. In recent years, the share of food grain crops within the study area has declined from 43% in 1994–1995 to 36% in 2014–2015, while the share of cotton crops has doubled from 11% to 20%, indicating a probable cause of concern in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any new economic activity in a virgin area brings landscape changes, making it essential to document baseline biodiversity areas to understand the impacts on habitats. Avifaunal inventories are critical for previously undocumented areas like the Valinokkam Lagoon in the Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu, which is an undocumented wintering site for shorebirds in the Central Asain Flyway (CAF). To formulate site and species-specific conservation management tools, the first bird baseline recorded 154 species of 16 orders and 46 families from August 2016 to February 2023. Order-wise, Charadriiformes (47 species) dominated the study area, followed by Passeriformes (39 species) and Pelecaniformes (20 species). Furthermore, according to the IUCN Red List Category, 11 Near Threatened (NT) species, one Endangered (EN) species (Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris), and one unassessed Hanuman Plover (Charadrius seebohmi) were recorded. The relative abundance indicated that 61 % (94 species) were Common (C), 26.6% (41 species) were uncommon (UC), and 12.3 % (19 species) were rare (Ra). Based on the residential status, winter visitors constituted 37.6 % (58 species) and one Passage Migrant (Rosy Starling Pastor roseus). This baseline data emphazises the importance of Valinokkam Lagoon as a crucial wintering site in the CAF on the southeastern coast of India for migratory shorebirds and the need for more conservation priorities for regional endemic birds like Hanuman Plover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]