Research Article (Open access)

SSR Inst. Int. J. Life. Sci., 5(3): 2302-2316, May 2019

Current Status of Ornithofauna of Ambedkar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

 

Akhilesh Kumar1, Sonika Kushwaha1*

1Indian Biodiversity Conservation Society, Khailar, BHEL, Jhansi, U.P., India

 

*Address for Correspondence: Indian Biodiversity Conservation Society, 1474, Near- Sarvodaya Petrol Pump, Indira Nagar, Khailar BHEL, Jhansi-284120, Uttar Pradesh, India

E-mail: ibcsforall@gmail.com, sonika2107@gmail.com

 

ABSTRACT- Background: The bird diversity in many districts of Uttar Pradesh is still unexplored. Information on baseline data of species can be used to set priorities, allowing conservation effort to be focused on those species that need the most attention. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the Ornithfauna of Ambedkar Nagar.

Methods: Extensive field surveys were undertaken in all the three season i.e. rainy, summer and winter. Line transects and point count methods were used for the bird counting.

Results: During the three years of study (November 2015 - December 2018), a diverse variety of 170 bird species was discovered. The highest bird species belonged to family Passeridae (13) followed by Anatidae (12), Corvidae (12) and Muscicapidae (11). However, no particular site was discovered that could be identified as a birding spot in the district. The lakes such as Darvan, Hanswar, Devhat have the potential to support rich avifaunal diversity however they were under serious threats due to various anthropogenic activities.

Conclusion: The study reflects the potential of Ambedkar Nagar to support a rich diversity of ornithofauna. There was a need to reduce anthropogenic mortality of birds or to educate the public to support for and to implement remedial measures. The organization of bird watching events on various occasions such as World Wetlands Day, International Day for Biological Diversity and World Wildlife Week will draw the intention and interest of local people and youth. Further studies based on the ecology of threatened and endangered birds are needed.

Key Words: Anthropogenic, Diversity, Threats, Mortality, Ornithofauna


INTRODUCTION- As far as bird diversity is concerned, India is a blessed country. It has more than 1300 bird species which is over 13% of the world’s bird species [1]. Uttar Pradesh has a rich and varied Ornithofauna of over 550 species [2]. Still, the bird diversity in many districts of Uttar Pradesh is still unexplored. This includes Ambedkar Nagar, a district in the Ayodhya division. Ambedkar Nagar was created on September 29, 1995, and was named in the memory of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Ideally, the forest must be at least 33% of the total geographical area, but as far as the study area is concerned the forest cover condition is in the distressing state. In 1995 there was 0.24% forest cover, which got reduced to 0.14% of the total geographical area in 2012. The situation was even worst in 2005 when the forest area in the district was just 0.11% [3]. The wild animals found in the district are not remarkable for either their number or variety. The ordinary species which occur to the south of the river Ghaghra includes jackals, foxes, wild boar. Ambedkar Nagar has been traditionally an agriculturally dominated area. Being an agrarian economy, domestic animals hold an important place in society. The natural vegetation is replaced by mixed vegetation that includes wild varieties with groove plantations. Due to fast habitat destruction and fragmentation, urbanisation, loss of forest and another natural system, mining, drainage of swamps and other wetlands are reducing the potential habitat of many birds. Information on baseline data of species can be used to set priorities, allowing conservation effort to be focused on those species that need the most attention. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the Ornithfauna of Ambedkar Nagar.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study Area- The district carved out from Faizabad is situated in the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh. The River Tamasa (Tons) divides the city of Ambedkarnagar into the two parts Akbarpur and Shahzadpur. Akbarpur is a city and a municipal board. The total area of the district is 2350.0 Sq. Km. The rural area covers 2255.1 Sq. Km. and urban recorded 94.9 Sq. Km. It lies between 26º 09" N to 26º 40"N latitudes and 82º 12" E to 83º 05" E longitudes and bounded in the north by district Basti and Sant Kabir Nagar, in north-east by Gorakhpur, in south by Sultanpur, in the west by Faizabad (Ayodhya) and in the east by district Azamgarh (Fig.1). The district is divided into nine development blocks namely Akbarpur, Katehri, Bhiti, Tanda, Baskhari, Ramnagar, Jalalpur, Jahangirganj and Bhiyaon [4].

 

map

 

Fig. 1: Study Area (Source: GoogleEarth)

 

The study area has a number of rivers and streams. The principal rivers are the Ghagra, Tons and Majohi. There are numerous large and small lakes spread over the district like Devhat, Hanswar,

and Darvan. The climatic condition of the district resembles that of eastern Uttar Pradesh that is characterized by a rhythm of seasons classified into winter Season (November to February), summer Season (March to Mid June) and rainy season (Mid June to October). The temperature in the summer rises up to 45ºC, while in winter temperature goes down up to 4ºC. The average annual rainfall of the district was 1135.5 mm [5].

To study the avifauna of Ambedkar Nagar an extensive survey of all the nine blocks of the district was done in all the three seasons i.e. rainy, summer and winter from November 2015 - December 2018. The birds were observed during most active and specific time  period of the day, i.e., early morning from 06:00 to 09:00 hours and in the evening from 16:00 to 18:00 hours in the summer while 07:00 to 10:00 hrs in the morning and 15:00 to 17:00 hrs in the winter. Line transects and points count methods were described by Verner [6] and Bibby et al. [7] were used for the bird counting. A transect of 50-metre length was selected and a 50-metre wide strip on each side of transect was selected for bird counting. At each transect, birds were counted using a 10x50 mm binocular, based on their morphological characteristics such as beak shape and colour, type of foot, the colour of shank, feathers, foot, and size of birds. Identification was carried out using standard literature [1,8,9]. For more authentications of species, photographs of birds were taken using 70 DSLR Camera. Furthermore, recorded birds were categorised according to their IUCN status such NA-Not Assessed, LC-Least Concern, NT-Near Threatened, V-Vulnerable, E-Endangered, CE-Critically Endangered. Based on the frequency of field observation, the abundance of birds was categorized as Common, Fairly common, Uncommon and Rare. Questionnaire surveys were also made in the nearby villages and surrounding of the selected points.

 

RESULTS- On compiling the data it was found that the district has 170 bird species belonging to 48 families (Table 1). The highest bird species belonged to family Passeridae (13) followed by Anatidae (12), Corvidae (12) and Muscicapidae (11). Only 1 or 2 species were recorded in 26 families (Fig. 2).

 

Table 1: List of bird species in Ambedkar Nagar

 

S. No.

Common name

Scientific name

Abundance Code

Family

IUCN Status

1.       

Jungle bush quail

Perdicula asiatica

UC

Phasianidae

LC

2.       

Grey Francolin

Francolinus pondicerianus

C 

LC

3.       

Indian Peafowl

Pavo cristatus

C

LC

4.       

Lesser Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna javanica

C

Dendrocygnidae

LC

5.       

Grey Lag Goose

Anser anser

C

Anatidae

LC

6.       

Bar Headed Goose

Anser indicus

C

LC

7.       

Ruddy Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea

C

LC

8.       

Comb Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

FC

LC

9.       

Gadwal

Anas strepera

C

LC

10.   

Eurasian Wigeon

Anas penelope

C

LC

11.   

Spot Billed Duck

Anas poecilorhyncha

C

LC

12.   

Northern Shoveler

Anas clypeata

C

LC

13.   

Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

C

LC

14.   

Common Teal

Anas crecca

C

LC

15.   

Red Crested Pochard

Rhodonessa rufina

FC

LC

16.   

Common Pochard

Aythya ferina

C

LC

17.   

Small Buttonquail

Turnix sylvatica

UC

Turnicidae

LC

18.   

Barred Buttonquail

Turnix suscitator

C

LC

19.   

Eurasian Wryneck

Jynx torquilla

FC

Picidae

LC

20.   

Brown Capped Pygmy Woodpecker

Dendrocopos nanus

FC

LC

21.   

Black Rumped Flameback

Dinopium benghalense

C

LC

22.   

Brown Headed Barbet

Megalaima zeylanica

FC

Megalaimidae

NA

23.   

Coppersmith Barbet

Megalaima haemacephala

C

LC

24.   

Indian Grey Hornbill

Ocyceros birostris

FC

Bucerotidae

LC

25.   

Common Hoopoe

Upupa epops

C

Upupidae

LC

26.   

Indian Roller

Coracias benghalensis

C

Coraciidae

LC

27.   

Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

FC

Alcedinidae

LC

28.   

White Throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

C

Halcyonidae

LC

29.   

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Halcyon capensis

C

LC

30.   

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

C

Cerylidae

LC

31.   

Green Bee Eater

Merops orientalis

C

Meropidae

LC

32.   

Pied Cuckoo

Clamator jacobinus

FC

Cuculidae

LC

33.   

Common Hawk Cuckoo

Hierococcyx varius

FC

LC

34.   

Asian Koel

Eudynamys scolopacea

C

LC

35.   

Sirkeer Malkoha

Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii

UC

LC

36.   

Greater Coucal

Centropus sinensis

C

Centropodidae

LC

37.   

Alexandrine Parakeet

Psittacula eupatria

FC

Psittacidae

LC

38.   

Rose Ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

C

LC

39.   

Plum Headed Parakeet

Psittacula cyanocephala

FC

LC

40.   

House Swift

Apus affinis

C

Apodidae

LC

41.   

Collared Scops Owl

Otus bakkamoena

FC

Strigidae

LC

42.   

Brown Fish Owl

Ketupa zeylonsis

UC

LC

43.   

Barn owl

Tyto alba

UC

LC

44.   

Mottled wood owl

Strix ocellata

UC

LC

45.   

Jungle Owlet

Glaucidium radiatum

FC

LC

46.   

Spotted Owlet

Athene brama

FC

LC

47.   

Rock Pigeon

Columba livia

C

Columbidae

LC

48.   

Laughing Dove

Streptopelia senegalensis

C

LC

49.   

Spotted Dove

Streptopelia chinensis

C

LC

50.   

Eurasian Collard Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

C

LC

51.   

Red Collared Dove

Streptopelia tranquebarica

FC

LC

52.   

Yellow Footed Green Pigeon

Treron phoenicoptera

C

LC

53.   

Sarus Crane

Grus antigon

UC

Gruidae

NT

54.   

White Breasted Waterhen

Amaurornis phoenicurus

C

Rallidae

LC

55.   

Purple Swamphen

Porphyrio porphyrio

C

LC

56.   

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

C

LC

57.   

Common Coot

Fulica atra

C

LC

58.   

Common snipe

Gallinago gallinago

FC

Scolopacidae

 

LC

59.   

Common Redshank

Tringa totanus

C

LC

60.   

Common GreenShank

Tringa nebularia

C

LC

61.   

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

FC

LC

62.   

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa glareola

C

LC

63.   

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

C

LC

64.   

Pheasant tailed jacana

Hydrophasianus chirurgus

C

Jacanidae

LC

65.   

Bronze Winged Jacana

Metopidius indicus

C

LC

66.   

Eurasian Thick Knee

Burhinus oedicnemus

C

Burhinidae

LC

67.   

Black Winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

C

Charadriidae

LC

68.   

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubius

C

LC

69.   

Yellow Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus malarbaricus

UC

NA

70.   

River Lapwing

Vanellus duvaucelii

FC

NT

71.   

Red Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

C

LC

72.   

Small Pratincole

Glareola lactea

FC

Glareolidae

LC

73.   

River tern

Sterna aurantia

FC

Laridae

NT

74.   

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Pernis ptilorhyncus

FC

Accipitridae

LC

75.   

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

FC

LC

76.   

Black Shouldered Kite

Elanus caeruleus

FC

LC

77.   

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

C

LC

78.   

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron perconpterus

FC

E

79.   

Shikra

Accipiter badius

C

LC

80.   

White Eyed Buzzard

Butastur teesa

FC

LC

81.   

Eurasian Marsh harrier

Circus aeruginosus

C

LC

82.   

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

C

Podicipedidae

LC

83.   

Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

FC

Anhingidae

NT

84.   

Little Cormorant

Phalacrocorax niger

C

Phalacrocoracidae

 

LC

85.   

Indian Cormorant

Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

C

LC

86.   

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

FC

LC

87.   

Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

C

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ardeidae

LC

88.   

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

C

LC

89.   

Little Egret

Egretta gargetta

C

LC

90.   

Great Egret

Casmerodius albus

C

LC

91.   

Intermediate Egret

Mesophoyx intermedia

C

LC

92.   

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

C

LC

93.   

Indian Pond Heron

Ardeola grayii

C

LC

94.   

Little Heron

Butorides straitus

UC

LC

95.   

Black Crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

FC

LC

96.   

Black Ibis

Pseudibis papillosa

FC

Threskiornithidae

LC

97.   

Glossy ibis

Plegadis falcinellus

FC

LC

98.   

Black-headed ibis

Threskiornis melanocephalus

FC

NT

99.   

Painted Stork

Mycteria leucocephala

C

Ciconiidae

NT

100.                       

Asian Openbill

Anastomus oscitans

FC

LC

101.                       

Woolly Necked Sork

Ciconia episcopus

FC

V

102.                       

Black Necked Stork

Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

C

NT

103.                       

Lesser Adjutant

Leptoptilos javanicus

UC

NT

104.                       

Long Tailed Shrike

Lanius schach

C

Laniidae

LC

105.                       

Bay-backed Shrike

Lanius vittatus

FC

LC

106.                       

Rufous Treepie

Dendrocitta vagabunda

C

Corvidae

 

LC

107.                       

House Crow

Corvus splendens

C

LC

108.                       

Large Billed Crow

Corvus macrorhynchos

C

LC

109.                       

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

C

LC

110.                       

Black Hooded Oriole

Oriolus xanthornus

FC

LC

111.                       

Large Cuckoo shrike

Coracina macei

UC

LC

112.                       

Small Minivet

Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

FC

LC

113.                       

White-browed fantail

Rhipidura aureola

FC

LC

114.                       

Black Drongo

Dicrurus macrocercus

C

LC

115.                       

Common Iora

Aegithina tiphia

FC

LC

116.                       

Common Woodshrike

Tephrodornis pondicerianus

FC

LC

117.                       

Asian Paradise-flycatcher

Terpsiphone paradisi

FC

LC

118.                       

Oriental Magpie Robin

Copsychus saularis

C

Muscicapidae

LC

119.                       

Indian Robin

Saxicoloides fulicata

C

LC

120.                       

Black Redstart

Phoenicurus ochruros

FC

LC

121.                       

Pied Bushchat

Saxicola caprata

C

LC

122.                       

Brown Rock Chat

Cercomela fusca

FC

LC

123.                       

Common Stonechat

Saxicola torquata

C

LC

124.                       

Red-throated flycatcher

Ficedula parva

FC

LC

125.                       

Verditer flycatcher

Eumyias thalassina

FC

LC

126.                       

Tickell’s Blue flycatcher

Cyornis tickelliae

FC

LC

127.                       

Grey-headed canary flycatcher

Culicicapa ceylonensis

FC

LC

128.                       

Bluethroat

Luscinia svecica

FC

LC

129.                       

Brahminy Starling

Sturnus pagodarum

C

Sturnidae

LC

130.                       

Chestnut-tailed Starling

Sturnus malabaricus

FC

LC

131.                      J

Jungle mynah

Acridotheres fuscus

FC

LC

132.                       

Asian Pied Starling

Sturnus contra

C

LC

133.                       

Common Mynah

Acridotheres ginginianus

C

LC

134.                       

Bank Mynah

Acridotheres ginginianus

C

LC

135.                       

Great Tit

Parus major

FC

Paridae

LC

136.                       

Plain Martin

Riparia rupestris

FC

Hirundinidae

LC

137.                       

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

C

LC

138.                       

Wire Tailed Swallow

Hirundo  smithii

FC

LC

139.                       

Streak-throated swallow

Hirundo fluvicola

FC

LC

140.                       

Red Whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

C

Pycnonotidae

LC

141.                       

Red Vented Bulbul

Pycnonotus cafer

C

LC

142.                       

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

FC

Cisticolidae

LC

143.                       

Grey Breasted Prinia

Prinia hodgsonii

FC

LC

144.                       

Ashy Prinia

Prinia socialis

C

LC

145.                       

Plain Prinia

Prinia inornata

C

LC

146.                       

Oriental White Eye

Zosterops palpebrosus

C

Zosteropidae

LC

147.                       

Common Tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

C

Sylviidae

LC

148.                       

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

C

LC

149.                       

Hume’s Lesser Whitethroat

Sylvia althaea

FC

LC

150.                       

Yellow Eyed Babbler

Chrysomma sinense

C

LC

151.                       

Common Babbler

Turdoides caudatus

FC

LC

152.                       

Large Grey Babbler

Turdoides malcolmi

C

LC

153.                       

Jungle Babbler

Turdoides straitus

C

LC

154.                       

Indian Bushlark

Mirafra erythroptera

FC

Alaudidae

LC

155.                       

Oriental Skylark

Alauda gulgula

C

LC

156.                       

Ashy-crowned sparrow lark

Eremopterix grisea

FC

Alaudidae

LC

157.                       

Purple Sunbird

Nectarinia asiatica

C

Nectariniidae

LC

158.                       

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus

C

Passeridae

LC

159.                       

Chestnut Shouldered Petronia

Petronia xanthocollis

FC

LC

160.                       

White Wagtail

Motacilla personata

C

LC

161.                       

Cristine Wagtail

Motacilla calcarata

C

LC

162.                       

Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla thunbergi

C

LC

163.                       

Grey Wagtail

Motacilla cinerea

FC

LC

164.                       

Paddy field Pipit

Anthus rufulus

C

LC

165.                       

Olive-backed Pipit

Anthus hodgsoni

FC

LC

166.                       

Baya Weaver

Ploceus philippinus

C

LC

167.                       

Black-breasted weaver

Ploceus benghalensis

FC

LC

168.                       

Red Avadavat

Amandava amandava

FC

LC

169.                       

Indian Silverbill

Lonchura  malabarica

C

LC

170.                       

Scaly Breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

FC

LC

C-Common; FC-Fairly Common; UC-Uncommon; NA-Not Assessed; LC-Least Concern; NT-Near Threatened; V-Vulnerable; E-Endangered

 

 

Fig. 2: Total of 170 bird species belonging to 48 families

 

Amongst the 170 species, 11 were Uncommon, 64 were fairly common and rest 95 species were common (Fig. 5a-o), i.e only 6% of the birds were uncommon (Fig. 3). Least concerned category included 158 bird species (Fig. 4). According to the IUCN status 1 was Endangered, 8 near Threatened, 1 Vulnerable. For 2 species, data was Not Available (Fig. 6a-f). The most common birds recorded were crows, House sparrows, Parakeets, Yellow-footed green pigeons, lapwings, munias, bulbuls, mynas and Baya weaver.

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Fig. 4: IUCN Status of bird species

 

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Fig. 5a-o: Some Uncommon and Fairly common birds in Ambedkar Nagar

 

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Fig. 6a-f: Some Endangered, Near Threatened and Vulnerable species

 

The Indian National bird “Peacock” and the State bird of Uttar Pradesh “Sarus Crane” were easily spotted birds in almost all the tehsils of the district (Fig. 7a & b). Though the Census for Sarus cranes undertaken in 2010 by Forest Department reported zero data for Ambedkar Nagar [10], they were also seen nesting in the small local village ponds and also in rice fields. Similarly, no vultures had been reported in the district so far [11], but the Endangered Egyptian Vultures were also sighted occasionally (Fig. 6c). The district had no dense forest coverage and hilly terrain, therefore, the birds of rocky and cliff habitats were not recorded during the study.

 

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Fig. 7b: State bird of Uttar Pradesh “Sarus Crane”

 

DISCUSSION- Ambedkar Nagar, being an agricultural dominant area, the majority of birds reported were those that inhabit an agricultural landscape. There is growing interest in avian diversity in agricultural area [12-18]. Such studies were useful in the management and conservation of useful bird species and control of pest birds. Sarus cranes were mostly observed in the crop fields, and only few pairs were seen in small unprotected local ponds. Due to the deterioration and destruction of natural wetland habitats, Sarus cranes were increasingly being forced into agricultural fields all over its distribution range in India [19]. Most of the districts have at least one or two locates that are important birding sites [20-22]; however no particular site was discovered that could be identified as a birding spot in the district. The lakes such as Darvan, Hanswar, Devhat had the potential to support rich avifaunal diversity conversely they were under serious threats due to various anthropogenic activities. Various anthropogenic activities like uses of pesticides and insecticides in agriculture, deforestation, livestock grazing, hunting, fishing, development of industries and urbanization, sound pollution are some of the key threats to the avian diversity [23]. The majority of the aquatic birds were migratory; various types of ducks visit the lakes at the beginning of the winter. However, the numbers were low. The basic requirements of migratory birds at their wintering ground are adequate food supply and safety [24], which was not fulfilled by the water bodies in Ambedkar Nagar. Intensification of agriculture and use of an excess of pesticides have severely affected the faunal diversity of the wetlands [25,26]. The wetlands being neglected by the local people and the concerned authorities may soon be lost forever.

 

CONCLUSIONS- The study reflects the potential of Ambedkar Nagar to support a rich diversity of ornithofauna. Further studies based on the ecology of threatened and endangered birds such as Egyptian Vultures, Sarus crane, Alexandrine Parakeet, Woolly-necked stork and many more species are needed. As for the conservation of habitat, the extremely low forest cover and anthropogenic activities around the wetlands are serious problems that need immediate concern and elucidation.

The district demands regular monitoring and reporting of incidences related to birds. There is a need to reduce anthropogenic mortality of birds or to educate the public to support for and to implement remedial measures. The organization of bird watching events on various occasions such as World Wetlands Day, International Day for Biological Diversity and World Wildlife Week will draw the intention and interest of local people and youth.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT- The authors are thankful to the volunteers and local people for their kind support and cooperation during this much-needed study.

 

CONTRIBUTION OF AUTHORS

Research concept- Dr. Akhilesh Kumar

Research design- Dr. Akhilesh Kumar

Supervision- Dr. Sonika Kushwaha

Materials- Dr. Akhilesh Kumar

Data collection- Dr. Akhilesh Kumar

Data analysis and Interpretation- Dr. Sonika Kushwaha

Literature search- Dr. Akhilesh Kumar

Writing article- Dr. Akhilesh Kumar

Critical review- Dr. Sonika Kushwaha

Article editing- Dr. Sonika Kushwaha

Final approval- Dr. Akhilesh Kumar

 

REFERENCES

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