View of AN INVESTIGATION OF BIODIVERSITY OF AVIAN FAUNA OF UMMEDGANJ PAKSHI VIHAR, KOTA, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

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Vol.04,Special Issue 04, ²^nd Conference (ICIRSTM) April 2019, Available Online: www.ajeee.co.in/index.php/AJEEE

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AN INVESTIGATION OF BIODIVERSITY OF AVIAN FAUNA OF UMMEDGANJ PAKSHI VIHAR, KOTA, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Anshu Sharma

¹

, Harshit Sharma

²

, Dr. Surabhi Shrivastava

³

, Dr. Neha

⁴

1

Research Scholar In Zoology,

²

Research Scholar In Zoology,

3

Co-Ordinator, Department Of Wild Life Science, UOK, Kota And

⁴

Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Govt. College, Kota

Abstract:- The Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar is situated in Kota, Rajasthan. It is located 10 km.

away from the Kota central. The Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar has a unique identity because it is famous for the biodiversity of fauna and flora, specially for birds, such as Sarus Crane, Spotted Owlet, Indian Egale Owl, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Red Crested Pochard, Tufted Pochard, Yellow Footed Green Pigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Painted Stork, Stork Billed Kingfisher, Yellow Crowned Woodpecker, Golden Oriole etc.The majority of birds are observed during the winter followed by rainy and summer seasons. The area is in habited by more than 200 different types of birds. The study was carried out in Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar during October 2018 to February 2019. The data suggest that Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar is suitable habitat for birds because vegetation in the area is important factor affecting the abundance of avifauna.

Keywords:- Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar, Biodiversity, Water birds, Terrestrial birds.

1. INTRODUCTION

Birds are one of the most populous life forms on the planet and their diversity leads to a richness of life and beauty. Birds have beautiful plumage, melodius songs and artistic behaviour. They are only true flyers and can freely move across all geographical barriers.

The number of avain species in India is 1288 which belong to 89 families and 17 orders (Ali and Repley 1987; Pittie and Robertson, 1993) Rajasthan state is ecologically diversified with a wide variety of flora and fauna in different ecological zones of this princely state. About 510 species of birds have been recorded from the diversified ecological zones of extreme and western Kota.

Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar (25

'6' 43.818 N, 75 55' 18.942" E) is situated 15 k.m.

away from Kota city on Kethun road. It provides an appropriate habitat for avain diversity.

In Rajasthan winter season is the most flourishing season and it invites numerous migratory birds from far-off places. Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar one of them. It suitable habitat for migratory and non-migratory birds. However, there has been no efforts to document the avifaunal diversity of the Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar, Kota. The avian species richness in this area is due to presence of grasslands, canals, shrubs, trees, water bodies, herbs, creepers which are rich in plants which support a wide variety of birds.

1.1 Study Area

The Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar is in Kota district. It is located between 25 6' to 43.818 N latitudes and 75 55' to 18.942" E longitudes.It covers 252.60 meters altitude. It is situated 15 k.m. away from Kota central. It was visited regularly from October 2018 to February 2019. Whenever, a bird was sighted or heard, it was identified and its number, frequency of occurrence and other information were noted down in the fiel note book. Birds were identified with the help of expert guidance and standard methods given by Ali and Ripley (1995), Ali and Ripley (1969), Ali and Ripley (1983), Ali (1996), Grimmett et.al.(1999) and Ali (2002). Ummedganj Pakshi Viahar is fish landing centre. Therefore variety of migtratory birds has visited to Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar region in winter season.

2. METHODS

The present study has been carried out between October 2018 to February 2019. Study was

carried out in and around Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar including winter visitors, resident and

local migratory birds. Each site was covered through walking as much as possible, but

occasionally vehicle was used to cover large areas. All the observations were recorded

without disturbing the birds or any other elements. Record images were taken using a

Nikon camera 300 mm lens and observations were also made through Nikon 12x50

binocular. All the observations were made during early morning and evening till the sunset

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time. Most bird species were identified with the help of guide “Birds of India”, “The Book of India Birds” and “Birds of the Indian subcontinent”.

3. RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS

The survey was conducted from October 2018 to March 2019. In this survey total 148 species with 55 families and 21 orders were reported. Feeding and habitat availability play an important role in the diversity and distribution of the avian fauna of area. The flora of the study area was rich and due to the thick flora the study area was bearing rich avian fauna.

Table: 1 Status and diversity of avian fauna observed in and around Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar

S.No. Birds Name Scientific Name Order Family Status Habitat

1. Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Podicipediformes Podicipedidae LC R 2. Little

cormorant Microcarbo niger Suliformes Phalacrocoracidae LC R 3. Indian shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Suliformes Phalacrocoracidae LC M 4. Great

cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo Suliformes Phalacrocoracidae LC M 5. Oriental

darter Anhinga melanogaster Suliformes Anhingidae NT M

6. Purple heron Ardea purpurea Pelecaniformes Ardeidae LC R

7. Grey heron Ardea cinerea Pelecaniformes Ardeidae LC R

8. Indian pond

heron Ardeola grayii Pelecaniformes Ardeidae LC R

9. Black- crowned night heron

Nycticorax nycticorax Pelecaniformes Ardeidae LC R

10. Great egret Egretta alba Pelecaniformes Ardeidae LC R

11. Little egret Egretta garzetta Pelecaniformes Ardeidae LC R 12. Intermediate

egret Egretta intermedia Pelecaniformes Ardeidae LC R

13. Cattle egret Bubulcus ibis Pelecaniformes Ardeidae LC R

14. Painted stork Mycteria leucocephala Ciconiiformes Ciconiidae NT R 15. Asian

openbill Anastomus oscitans Ciconiiformes Ciconiidae LC R

16. Woolly-

necked stork Ciconia episcopus Ciconiiformes Ciconiidae VU R 17. Green bee-

eater Merops orientalis Coraciiformes Meropidae LC R

18. Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus Pelecaniformes Threskiornithidae LC R 19. Black-headed

ibis Threskiornis

melanocephalus Pelecaniformes Threskiornithidae LC R 20. Indian black

Ibis Pseudibis papillosa Pelecaniformes Threskiornithidae LC R 21. Eurasian

spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Pelecaniformes Threskiornithidae LC R 22. Lesser

whistling duck

Dendrocygna javanica Anseriformes Anatidae LC R

23. Greylag goose Anser anser Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

24. Bar-headed goose

Anser indicus Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

25. Ruddy shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

26. Knob-billed

duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Anseriformes Anatidae LC R

27. Cotton teal Nettapus coromandelianus Anseriformes Anatidae LC R

28. Gadwall Mareca strepera Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

29. Eurasian

wegion Mareca penelope Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

30. Indian spot-

billed duck Anas poecilorhyncha Anseriformes Anatidae LC R

31. Northern

Shoveler Spatula clypeata Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

32. Garganey Anas querquedula Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

33. Common teal Anas crecca Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

34. Red-crested

pochard Netta rufina Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

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35. Common

pochard Aythya ferina Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

36. Ferruginous

duck Aythya nyroca Anseriformes Anatidae NT M

37. Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Anseriformes Anatidae LC M

38. Oriental honey buzzard

Pernis ptilorhynchus Accipitriformes Accipitridae LC R

39. Black-winged kite

Elanus caeruleus Accipitriformes Accipitridae LC R 40. Black kite Milvus migrans Accipitriformes Accipitridae LC M 41. Black-eared

kite Milvus lineatus Accipitriformes Accipitridae LC M

42. Egyptian

vulture Neophron percnopterus Accipitriformes Accipitridae EN R 43. Western

marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus Accipitriformes Accipitridae LC M

44. Shikra Accipiter badius Accipitriformes Accipitridae LC R

45. Greater

spotted eagle Clanga clanga Accipitriformes Accipitridae VU M 46. Steppe eagle Aquila nipalensis Accipitriformes Accipitridae EN M 47. Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Accipitriformes Accipitridae LC M 48. Western

osprey Pandion haliaetus Accipitriformes Pandionidae LC M

49. Grey

francolin Francolinus pondicerianus Galliformes Phasianidae LC R 50. Indian

peafowl Pavo cristatus Galliformes Phasianidae LC R

51. Common

kestrel Falco tinnunculus Falconiformes Falconidae LC M

52. Eurasian coot Fulica atra Gruiformes Rallidae LC M

53. Common

moorhen Gallinula chloropus Gruiformes Rallidae LC R

54. White- breasted waterhen

Amaurornis phoenicurus Gruiformes Rallidae LC R

55. Purple

swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio Gruiformes Rallidae LC R

56. Red-wattled

lapwing Vanellus indicus Charadriiformes Charadriidae LC R

57. White-tailed

lapwing Vanellus leucurus Charadriiformes Charadriidae LC M 58. Bronze-

winged jacana

Metopidius indicus Charadriiformes Jacanidae LC R

59. Black-winged

stilt Himantopus himantopus Charadriiformes Recurvirostridae LC R 60. Greater

painted snipe Rostratula benghalensis Charadriiformes Rostratulidae LC R 61. Common

snipe Gallinago gallinago Charadriiformes Scolopacidae LC M 62. Chestnut-

bellied sandgrouse

Pterocles exustu Pterocliformes Pteroclidae LC R

63. Great thick-

knee Esacus recurvirostris Charadriiformes Burhinidae LC R

64. Common greenshank

Tringa nebularia Charadriiformes Scolopacidae LC M 65. Spotted

redshank Tringa erythropus Charadriiformes Scolopacidae LC M 66. Common

redshank Tringa totanus Charadriiformes Scolopacidae LC M

67. Common

sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Charadriiformes Scolopacidae LC R 68. Wood

sandpiper Tringa glareola Charadriiformes Scolopacidae LC M 69. Whiskered

tern Chlidonias hybrida Charadriiformes Laridae LC RM

70. River tern Sterna aurantia Charadriiformes Laridae LC R

71. Steppe gull Larus cachinnans Charadriiformes Laridae LC M

72. Slender-billed

gull Chroicocephalus genei Charadriiformes Laridae LC M

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73. Pallas’s gull Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus Charadriiformes Laridae LC M

74. Spotted owlet Athene brama Strigiformes Strigidae LC R

75. Indian eagle-

owl Bubo bengalensis Strigiformes Strigidae LC R

76. Yellow-footed

green pigeon Treronp.phoenicopterus Columbiformes Columbidae LC R

77. Rock pigeon Columba livia Columbiformes Columbidae LC R

78. Eurasian

collard dove Streptopelia decaocto Columbiformes Columbidae LC R 79. Laughing

dove Streptopelia senegalensis Columbiformes Columbidae LC R 80. Spotted dove Streptopelia chinesis Columbiformes Columbidae LC R 81. Red collard

dove Streptopelia tranquebarica Columbiformes Columbidae LC R 82. Alexandrine

parakeet Psittacula eupatria Psittaciformes Psittaculidae NT R 83. Rose-ringed

parakeet Psittacula krameri Psittaciformes Psittaculidae LC R 84. Plum-headed

parakeet Psittacula cyaocephala Psittaciformes Psittaculidae LC R 85. Greater

coucal

Centropus sinensis Cuculiformes Cuculidae LC R

86. Common

hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx varius Cuculiformes Cuculidae LC M

87. Asian koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Cuculiformes Cuculidae LC R 88. Yellow

crowned pygmy woodpecker

Leiopicus mahrattensis Piciformes Picidae LC R

89. Black- rumped flameblack woodpecker

Dinopium benghalense Piciformes Picidae LC R

90. Indian roller Coracias benghalensis Coraciiformes Coraciidae LC R 91. Stork-billed

kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis Coraciiformes Alcedinidae LC R 92. White-

throated kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis Coraciiformes Alcedinidae LC R

93. Pied

kingfisher Ceryle rudis Coraciiformes Alcedinidae LC R

94. Common

kingfisher Alcedo atthis Coraciiformes Alcedinidae LC R

95. Indian Grey

hornbill Ocyceros birstris Bucerotiformes Bucerotidae LC R

96. Common

hoopoe Upupa epops Bucerotiformes Upupidae LC R

97. Coppersmith

barbet Megalaima haemacephala Piciformes Megalaimidae LC R

98. Large

cuckooshrike Coracina macei Passeriformes Campephagidae LC R 99. Ashy-

crowned sparrow-lark

Eremopterix griseus Passeriformes Alaudidae LC R

100. Rufous

treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda Passeriformes Corvidae LC R

101. House crow Corvus splendens Passeriformes Corvidae LC R

102. Indian jungle

crow Corvus culminatus Passeriformes Corvidae LC R

103. Wire-tailed

swallow Hirundo smithii Passeriformes Hirundinidae LC R

104. Streak- throated swallow

Petrochelidon fluvicola Passeriformes Hirundinidae LC R

105. White browed

wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis Passeriformes Motacillidae LC M 106. White wagtail Motacilla alba Passeriformes Motacillidae LC M 107. Citirne

wagtail Motacilla citreola Passeriformes Motacillidae LC M

108. Western

yellow wagtail Motacilla flava Passeriformes Motacillidae LC M 109. Grey wagtail Motacilla cinerea Passeriformes Motacillidae LC M

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110. Paddy-field

pipit Anthus rufulus Passeriformes Motacillidae LC R

111. Sarus crane Grus antigone Gruiformes Gruidae VU R

112. Common wood shrike

Tephrodornis pondicerianus Passeriformes Vangidae LC R 113. White-eared

bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis Passeriformes Pycnonotidae LC R

114. Red-vented

bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Passeriformes Pycnonotidae LC R

115. Long-tailed

shrike Lanius schach Passeriformes Laniidae LC R

116. Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Passeriformes Muscicapidae LC M 117. Indian robin Copsychus fulicatus Passeriformes Muscicapidae LC R 118. Oriental

magpie robin Copsychus saularis Passeriformes Muscicapidae LC R 119. Yellow-eyed

babbler Chrysomma sinense Passeriformes Sylviidae LC M

120. Siberian

stonchat Saxicola maurus Passeriformes Muscicapidae LC M

121. Pied bush

chat Saxicola caprata Passeriformes Muscicapidae LC M

122. Brown rock

chat Oenanthe fusca Passeriformes Muscicapidae LC R

123. Large grey babbler

Argya malcolmi Passeriformes Leiothrichidae LC R

124. Common babbler

Argya caudata Passeriformes Leiothrichidae LC R

125. Jungle

babbler Argya striata Passeriformes Leiothrichidae LC R

126. Plain prinia Peinia inornata Passeriformes Cisticolidae LC R 127. Ashy prinia Prinia socialis Passeriformes Cisticolidae LC R 128. Jungle prinia Prinia sylvatica Passeriformes Cisticolidae LC R 129. Indian golden

oriole Oriolus kundoo Passeriformes Oriolidae LC R

130. Blyth’s reed-

warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum Passeriformes Acrocephalidae LC M 131. Red-breasted

flycatcher Ficedula parva Passeriformes Muscicapidae LC M

132. Grey-headed canary flycatcher

Culicicapa ceylonensis Passeriformes Stenostiridae LC M

133. White-browed

fantail Rhipidura aureola Passeriformes Rhipiduridae LC R

134. Purple

sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Passeriformes Nectariniidae LC R 135. Common

rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus Passeriformes Fringillidae LC M 136. Black headed

bunting

Emberiza melanocephala Passeriformes Emberizidae LC M 137. House

sparrow Passer domesticus Passeriformes Passeridae LC R

138. Red avadavat Amandava amandava Passeriformes Estrildidae LC R 139. Indian

silverbill Euodice malabarica Passeriformes Estrildidae LC R 140. Baya weaver Ploceus philippinus Passeriformes Ploceidae LC R 141. Streaked

weaver Ploceus manyar Passeriformes Ploceidae LC R

142. Rosy starling Pastor roseus Passeriformes Sturnidae LC M

143. Brahminy starling

Sturnia pagodarum Passeriformes Sturnidae LC R

144. Asian pied

starling Gracupica contra Passeriformes Sturnidae LC R

145. Common myna

Acridotheres tristis Passeriformes Sturnidae LC R 146. Bank myna Acridotheres ginginianus Passeriformes Sturnidae LC R 147. White-bellied

drongo Dicrurus caerulescens Passeriformes Dicruridae LC R

148. Black drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Passeriformes Dicruridae LC R

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Status: LC = least concern, NT = near threatened, VU = vulnerable, EN = endangered

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Habitat: R = resident, M = migratory, RM = resident migratory.

4. CONCLUSION

As there is no data available about avifauna from Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar, therefore this may be the first preliminary study report of Ummedganj Pakshi Vihar. Birds are an important indicator of biological health of an ecosystem. Care should be taken to protect and preserve habitats of these birds under natural conditions. Awareness should be created to generate help at local level in conservation activities.

5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors are thankful to Head, Department of Zoology, Govt. College, Kota for providing facilities. Thanks are also due to Department of Wild life science university of Kota for their help during our investigation. We are also thankful to Mr. Devendrs kumar Sharma and Mr.

Chandra shekhar sharivastava for their constant help during the study period on field activities.

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