29 Aquatic Avifauna- Its Importance for Wetland Conservation in Rajasthan India

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    202 Aquatic Avifauna: Its Importance for Wetland Conservation in Rajasthan, India

    Aquatic Avifauna: Its Importance for

    Wetland Conservation in Rajasthan, India

    Sarita Mehra1, Satya Prakash Mehra2 &Krishan Kumar Sharma3

    Biodiversity Research Laboratory,

    Department of Zoology, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University,

    Ajmer 305009 Rajasthan, India

    &

    Rajputana Society of Natural History, Kesar Bhawan,

    P. No. 90, B/d Saraswati Hosp., Ganeshnagar, Pahada,

    Udaipur 313001 Rajasthan, IndiaEmail: 1. [email protected], 2. [email protected],

    3. [email protected]

    Corresponding Author: Satya Prakash Mehra

    Email: [email protected]

    Southern Rajasthan holds many water bodies of significance either in

    form of lakes, dams and rivers. Many aquatic lives are associated with

    these water bodies. Avifauna is one of the most important and eye-catching

    organism among them. Approximately 30% of the avifauna of Rajasthan isdependent on wetlands. The paper document the list of birds of the

    southern region of Rajasthan which are directly or indirectly dependent on

    the wetlands based on the observations and surveys for 9 years (1999 -

    2007). The southern part of the state under study comprises of six districts

    of Udaipur region (Banswara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh,

    Rajsamand and Udaipur) and one district from Jodhpur region (Sirohi).

    The aquatic habitats of southern region of state provide base for 105

    species representing 26 families of birds. 11 species of global interest are

    found in the wetlands of the study area. Among the species of global

    interest Spot-billed Pelican, Sarus Crane and Indian Skimmer arecategorized as vulnerable whereas Dalmatian Pelican is conservation

    dependent. Darter, Painted Stork, Black-necked Stork, Black-headed Ibis,

    Lesser Flamingo, Ferruginous Pochard, Lesser Fish-Eagle and Black-

    bellied Tern are categorized as near threatened. Spot-billed Pelican and

    Indian Skimmer had not been sighted by the authors in the study period.

    Sarus Crane was common in whole of the study area but Banswara,

    Dungarpur and Chittorgarh districts had comparatively high numbers of

    individuals. Similarly, many aquatic bodies of Banswara and Dungarpur

    found to be ideal sites for the other threatened species. Through this work,

    the importance of the southern part of the desert state is tried to highlightthrough avifauna. Monitoring of water birds can provide valuable

    Sponsored By: Department of Environment, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur[February 19-20, 2010]

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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    Proceedings of Conservation of Lakes and Water Resources: Management Strategies 203

    Sponsored By: Department of Environment, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur[February 19-20, 2010]

    information on the status of wetlands and can be a key tool for increasing

    the awareness of importance of wetlands and conservation values.

    Keywords: wetland, southern Rajasthan, avifauna, sarus crane,

    pelican, stork, lesser fish-eagle

    INTRODUCTION

    Waterbirds play an important role in several spheres of human interest:

    culturally, socially, scientifically and as food resource (Pandey 1993,

    Manihar and Trisal 2001). They represent important components of our

    wetland ecosystems as they form important links in the food web and

    nutrient cycles (Chen and Zhang 1998). Many wetland species also play a

    role in the control of agricultural pests, whilst some species are themselves

    considered as pests of certain crops. After fish, birds are probably the most

    important faunal group that attracts people to wetlands. Many waterbirds aremigratory, undertaking annual migrations along different flyways spanning

    the length and breadth of the globe between their breeding and non-breeding

    grounds (Ali 1959,Alerstam 1990).According to the Ramsar Convention, the waterbirds are broadly

    defined as the birds depend on the wetlands for their living, including

    what we used to say: ducks and geese, shorebirds and waders and some

    other species depending on wetlands, such as kingfishers, raptors and some

    passerines. However, only 20 families of birds are included in the Species

    List of Ramsar Convention. Except Glareolidae, they are all natatorialbirds, wading birds and shorebirds. In these 20 families, there are at least

    404 species occurring in Asia-Pacific region and 243 species of them are

    migratory birds (Anon. 2001).

    Out of total 510 avian species of state, 155 species comprising

    approximately 30% of the total number of birds found in Rajasthan depend

    on the wetlands (Ali and Ripley 1968-1999, Grimmett et al.1999). Most are

    collectively called waterbirds and include the grebes (Podicipediformes);

    pelicans and cormorants (Pelecaniformes); herons, ibis, spoonbills and

    bitterns (Ciconiiformes); ducks, geese (Anseriformes); cranes, gallinules(Gruiformes); and waders, guls and terns (Charadriiformes). Species such as

    fish-eagles, osprey, harrier not usually called waterbirds, also depend on

    wetlands. There are also some waterbirds which have virtually lost any

    association with wetlands (plovers, pratincoles) (Ali and Ripley 1968-1999,

    Grimmett et al.1999).

    Alike all over the world aquatic birds attracted the attention of

    ornithologists, specialists on hunting management and hunters from the very

    past time in the princely state of Rajasthan (Adam 1873, Barnes 1891, Oates

    1899, Messurier 1904, Impey 1909, Whistler 1938, Prakash 1960, Kushlan

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    204 Aquatic Avifauna: Its Importance for Wetland Conservation in Rajasthan, India

    Sponsored By: Department of Environment, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur[February 19-20, 2010]

    1986). Keoladeo is a well known man-made wetland from the State. It was

    estimated that roughly 40118.4 sq. km is under 872 wetlands in India

    (Anon. 1990). The State of Rajasthan is one of the driest state of the country

    and the total surface water resources in the State is only about 1% of the

    total surface water resources of the country. Nevertheless there arethousands of temporary freshwater and salt aquatic bodies in the region,

    varying enormously in size. 52 wetlands, including three natural, have been

    identified in state which expands in approx. 34% of the geographic area of

    state (Anon. 1990). The rivers of the state are rainfed and identified by 14

    major basins divided into 59 subbasins (Rajasthan Irrigation Department

    2007). There are many wetlands in the state which are well recognized. The

    different origin and ecological peculiarities of wetlands make up the

    typology of wetlands which are the main habitats of aquatic birds. The

    surface water play major role in providing the ground to aquatic birds along

    with its characteristics with respect to the food availability and protection.

    The surface water resources in Rajasthan are mainly confined to south and

    southeastern part of the State. The paper deals with the southern part of the

    state with respect to the avifauna.

    Study Area

    The southern part of the State under study comprises of six districts of

    Udaipur region and one district from Jodhpur region constituting 12.3% part

    of total geographic area of the state. The area under investigation holds man-

    made water bodies of large size (> 1000 ha), medium size (500 - 999 ha)and small size (100 - 499 ha) along with several less known lakes and dams

    useful for the biodiversity.

    Methodology

    The water birds of the study area were documented from 1999 to 2008

    in winter and summer. Periodical studies were made to know the status and

    distribution of the water birds at the respective sites (Javed & Kaul 2002).

    During the winter seasons, the frequency of visits was weekly whereas for

    other season the visits were monthly or bimonthly depending on the wateravailability in the aquatic bodies.

    Waterbirds were identified with the help of field guides Grimmett et al.

    (1999), Kazmierczak (2000) and Grimmett et al. (2004). The scientific

    names and classification were used as according to Manakadan and Pittie

    (2001).

    Results

    In total, 304 bird species were recorded out of these 111 species are

    directly or indirectly dependent on the wetlands (Table 1). They represent

    26 families of the birds excluding Rynchopidae (Indian Skimmer is the only

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    Proceedings of Conservation of Lakes and Water Resources: Management Strategies 205

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    representative species of Rynchopidae which was not sighted in any part of

    the study area during the time of studies). Four species, viz. Spot-billed

    Pelican Pelecanus philippensis from Udaipur Lake Complex (R. Tehsin,

    pers. comm. 2001), Falcated Duck Anas falcata from waterbodies of

    Dungarpur (in litt.), Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola and IndianSkimmer Rynchops albicollis from Mount Abu (Butler 1875-1877,

    Shivrajkumar 1949) showed their existence in the past and were not

    recorded during the study period whereas Yellow-legged Gull Larus

    cachinnans was doubtful sighting (from West Banas, December 2005 by the

    authors) and need further authentic confirmation before getting enlisted in

    the checklist of the study area. 12 species in the threatened category

    (BirdLife international 2001) showed their presence in the wetlands of the

    study area. Nine sites were already identified as Important Bird Areas (Islam

    and Rahmani 2004).

    Wetlands were the first major ecosystem to be protected by an

    international treaty to stop the decline of waterfowl populations which was

    then linked to habitat loss (Amezaga et al. 2002). The number of waterbirds

    using a particular habitat is related to types and quality of habitats,

    abundance and availability of food, and level of disturbance (Mukherjee

    1969 - 1976, Krishnan 1978, Pandit 1982, Gopakumar 1990, Green 1996,

    Hafner 1997). Anatomical adaptations, bill and leg shape of the waterbirds

    ensure that a wide variety of different food types are accessible in wetlands

    (Perrins 1990). Monitoring of waterbirds can provide valuable informationon the status of wetlands (Custeret al. 1991, Kushlan 1993), and can be a

    key tool for increasing the awareness of importance of wetlands and

    conservation values. There is growing concern of the need to conserve

    waterbirds and wetlands and recognition that birds can serve as indicators of

    the health of our surroundings (Anon 2001).

    Recommendations

    Conservation through Community Participation: There is always a

    conflict between protection of habitats and human involvement.

    Uncontrolled urbanization has forced both wetland habitats and biodiversityin a situation that both are struggling for their existence. There is need to

    bring the concept of conserving these habitats as well as biodiversity.

    Community based nature conservation that is coming up very successful in

    many parts of the globe could be used in the region.

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    208 Aquatic Avifauna: Its Importance for Wetland Conservation in Rajasthan, India

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    Whistler, H. (1938): Ornithological Survey of Jodhpur State. J. Bombay Nat. Hist.

    Soc. 40: 213-235.

    Table 1: Annotated Checklist of Wetland Dependent Avifauna in

    Southern Rajasthan

    SrNo SpeciesCommon, Scientific Name Comments (describes status in southern

    Rajasthan and places of sighting, i.e.,

    distribution)

    Grebes Podicipedidae

    1 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

    (Pallas, 1764)

    Common, resident; sighting from all the

    large/medium wetlands

    2 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps

    cristatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Rare, winter migratory, sighted only at

    Baghdarra (31/12/ 2006)

    Pelicans Pelecanidae

    3 Great White Pelican Pelecanus

    onocrotalus Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighted in all the

    parts but restricted to few wetlands (West

    Banas, Ora, Udaisagar, Vallabhnagar, etc.)

    ? Spot-billed Pelican VU #Pelecanus

    philippensis Gmelin, 1789

    Rare, winter migratory; sighted in Udaipur

    Lake Complex before 1996 (R. Tehsin, pers.

    comm., 2001)

    4 Dalmatian Pelican CD #Pelecanus

    crispus Bruch, 1832

    Common winter migratory; as like other

    pelican species

    Cormorants/Shags Phalacrocoracidae

    5 Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax

    niger(Vieillot, 1817)

    Common, local movement; sighted in every

    aquatic body where water remains throughout

    the year

    6 Indian Cormorant or Indian Shag

    Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Stephens,

    1826

    Not so common, local movement; restricted to

    few aquatic water bodies of Banswara, Sirohi

    and Udaipur

    7 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax

    carbo (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, resident; sighted in every aquatic

    body where water remains throughout the year

    Darters Anhingidae

    8 Darter NT #Anhinga melanogaster

    Pennant, 1769

    Not so common, local movement; restricted to

    few aquatic water bodies of Banswara and

    Dungarpur

    Herons, Egrets & Bitterns Ardeidae

    9 Little EgretEgretta garzetta

    (Linnaeus, 1766)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    10 Grey HeronArdea cinerea

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, local movement; sighted

    everywhere11 Purple HeronArdea purpurea

    Linnaeus, 1766

    Not so common, local movement; sighted

    everywhere

    12 Large Egret Casmerodius albus

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    13 Median EgretMesophoyx

    intermedia (Wagler, 1829)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    14 Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    15 Indian Pond-HeronArdeola grayii

    (Sykes, 1832)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    16 Little Green HeronButoridesstriatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Not so common, ?; sighted at Udaipur andDungarpur

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    17 Black-crowned Night-Heron

    Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus,

    1758)

    Common, local movement; sighted

    everywhere

    Storks Ciconiidae

    18 Painted Stork NT #Mycteria

    leucocephala (Pennant, 1769)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere but

    breeding was restricted to few wetlands ofBanswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur

    19 Asian Openbill-Stork#Anastomus

    oscitans (Boddaert, 1783)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere but

    breeding was restricted to few wetlands of

    Banswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur

    20 Black StorkCiconia nigra

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Rare, winter migratory, sighted only at West

    Banas (19/01/ 2008)

    21 Woolly-necked Stork or White-

    necked StorkCiconia episcopus(Boddaert, 1783)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere but

    breeding was restricted to few wetlands of

    Banswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur

    22 Black-necked Stork NT

    Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus

    (Latham, 1790)

    Common, local movement; sighted

    everywhere but limited to few water bodies in

    every district

    Ibises & Spoonbills Threskiornithidae

    23 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus

    (Linnaeus, 1766)

    Not so common, local movement; sighted at

    the marshy areas of Banswara, Dungarpur,

    Sirohi and Udaipur

    24 Black-headed Ibis or Oriental White

    Ibis NT #Threskiornis

    melanocephalus (Latham, 1790)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere but

    limited to few water bodies in every district

    25 Black Ibis #Pseudibis papillosa

    (Temminck, 1824)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere but

    limited to few water bodies in every district

    26 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea

    leucorodia Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere but

    breeding was restricted to few water bodies inBanswara and Dungarpur

    Flamingos Phoenicopteridae

    27 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus

    ruberLinnaeus, 1758

    Common, summer visitor; sighted at few

    aquatic bodies of every district

    28 Lesser Flamingo NT

    #Phoenicopterus minor(Geoffroy,

    1798)

    Rare, summer visitor; sighted at Dungarpur,

    Sirohi and Udaipur

    Swans, Geese & Ducks Anatidae

    29 Lesser Whistling-Duck

    Dendrocygna javanica (Horsfield,

    1821)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere but

    breeding records were restricted from few

    wetlands of Dungarpur, Sirohi and Udaipur30 Greylag GooseAnser anser

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, winter migratory; sighting was

    restricted to few wetlands of Banswara,

    Chittorgarh and Dungarpur

    31 Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus(Latham, 1790)

    Common, winter migratory; sighting was

    restricted to few wetlands of Banswara,

    Chittorgarh, Dungarpur and Sirohi

    32 Ruddy Shelduck or Brahminy

    ShelduckTadorna ferruginea(Pallas, 1764)

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere but large congregation were

    sighted in wetlands of Dungarpur (Nov. 2006)

    33 Comb DuckSarkidiornis melanotos

    (Pennant, 1769)

    Common, local movement; sighted

    everywhere but limited to few shallow waterbodies (rich in vegetation) in every district

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    34 Cotton Pygmy Goose or Cotton

    TealNettapus coromandelianus(Gmelin, 1789)

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere in major wetlands of every district

    35 GadwallAnas strepera Linnaeus,

    1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighted at few

    medium/small aquatic bodies of every district

    ? Falcated DuckAnas falcata Georgi,1775 ?, ?; presence was documented in literature inDungarpur

    36 Eurasian WigeonAnas penelopeLinnaeus, 1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighted at few

    medium/small/large aquatic bodies of every

    district but large congregations was recorded

    from Banswara (Dec. 2006)

    37 MallardAnas platyrhynchosLinnaeus, 1758

    Not so common, winter migratory; sighting

    was restricted to few wetlands of Banswara,

    Dungarpur, Sirohi and Udaipur

    38 Spot-billed DuckAnas

    poecilorhyncha J.R. Forester, 1781

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere but

    breeding records were only from few wetlands

    of Banswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur

    39 Northern ShovellerAnas clypeata

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere

    40 Northern PintailAnas acuta

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighting was

    restricted to few wetlands of every district

    41 GarganeyAnas querquedula

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Not so common, winter migratory; sighted

    only in Banswara & Mt Abu (21/03/08)

    42 Common TealAnas crecca

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere

    43 Red-crested PochardRhodonessa

    rufina (Pallas, 1773)

    Not so common, winter migratory; sighted

    only in Dungarpur

    44 Common PochardAythya ferina

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere but large congregation wasrecorded from Banswara (Dec 2006)

    45 Ferruginous Pochard NT #Aythya

    nyroca (Guldenstadt, 1770)

    Common, winter migratory; recorded only

    from the wetlands of Banswara, Dungarpur

    and Udaipur

    46 Tufted Duck or Tufted Pochard

    Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Not so common,winter migratory; recorded

    largely from wetlands of Banswara & West

    Banas (Sirohi)

    Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, Old World Vultures,Kites, Harriers Accipitridae

    47 Brahminy KiteHaliastur indus

    (Boddaert, 1783)

    Not so common, local movement; sighting was

    irregular but recorded from all the districts of

    study area48 Lesser Fish-Eagle or Lesser Grey-

    headed Fish-Eagle NT

    #Ichthyophaga humilis (S. Muller &

    Schlegel, 1841)

    Rare, ?; recorded only from the wetland of

    Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary (Chittorgarh)

    49 Eurasian Marsh Harrier or Western

    Marsh-HarrierCircus aeruginosus

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere

    50 Steppe EagleAquila nipalensis

    Hodgson, 1833

    Not so common, winter migratory; sighted

    only in Rajsamand and Sirohi

    Osprey Pandionidae

    51 Osprey Pandion haliaetus(Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, winter migratory; sightedeverywhere on the large/medium sized

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    reservoirs

    Falcons Falconidae

    52 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

    Tunstall, 1771

    Rare, ?; sighted only in Sirohi (West Banas)

    and Udaipur (Udaipur Lake Complex)

    Cranes Gruidae

    53 Sarus Crane VU #Grus antigone(Linnaeus, 1758) Common, resident; sighted everywhere

    54 Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Not so common, winter migratory; sighted in

    Sirohi only but passage migratory to other

    parts

    55 Common Crane Grus grus

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Not so common, winter migratory; sighted in

    Chittorgarh only (31/01/07) and Sirohi

    Crakes, Moorhens, Coots Rallidae

    56 Brown CrakeAmaurornis akool(Sykes, 1832)

    Not so common, local movement; sighted in

    Dungarpur and Sirohi

    57 White-breasted Waterhen

    Amaurornis phoenicurus (Pennant,1769)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    depending on the water availability

    58 Purple Swamphen and Purple

    Moorhen Porphyrio porphyrio

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere

    depending on the availability of water and

    aquatic vegetation

    59 Common Moorhen Gallinula

    chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere

    depending on the availability of water and

    aquatic vegetation

    60 Common Coot Fulica atraLinnaeus, 1758

    Common, local movement; sighted

    everywhere

    Jacanas Jacanidae

    61 Pheasant-tailed Jacana

    Hydrophasianus chirurgus (Scopoli,

    1786)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere

    depending on the availability of aquatic

    vegetation

    62 Bronze-winged JacanaMetopidius

    indicus (Latham, 1790)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere

    depending on the availability of water and

    aquatic vegetation

    Plovers, Lapwings Charadriidae

    63 Little Ringed PloverCharadrius

    dubius Scopoli, 1786

    Common, local movement; sighted

    everywhere

    64 Kentish PloverCharadrius

    alexandrinus Linnaeus, 1758

    Not so common, winter migratory; recorded

    from Banswara, Dungarpur, Sirohi and

    Udaipur

    65 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellusindicus (Boddaert, 1783)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    66 White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus

    leucurus (Lichtenstein, 1823)

    Not so common, winter migratory; recorded

    from Banswara (Talwara), Sirohi (West

    Banas, Ora, Kalakaji) and Udaipur (Pichola)

    Sandpipers, Stints, Snipes, Godwits & Curlews Scolopacidae

    ? Eurasian WoodcockScolopax

    rusticola Linnaeus, 1758

    ?, ?; past record from Mount Abu

    67 Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura

    (Bonaparte, 1830)

    Not so common, winter migratory; recorded

    from Dungarpur, Sirohi and Udaipur

    68 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, winter migratory; recorded

    everywhere but restricted to few wetlands69 Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus Not so common, winter migratory; recorded

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    (Brnnich, 1764) from Sirohi (Ora, West Banas) and Udaipur

    (Udaisagar)

    70 Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosa

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, winter migratory; recorded

    everywhere but restricted to few wetlands

    71 Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa

    lapponica (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Not so common, winter migratory; recorded

    from Chittorgarh, Sirohi and Udaipur72 Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquata

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Rare, ?; recorded from Sirohi (West Banas,

    Nov 2006)

    73 Spotted RedshankTringa

    erythropus (Pallas, 1764)

    Common, winter migratory; recorded

    everywhere but restricted to few wetlands

    74 Common RedshankTringa totanus

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, winter migratory; recorded

    everywhere but restricted to few wetlands

    75 Marsh Sandpiper (395) Tringa

    stagnatilis (Bechstein, 1803)

    Common, winter migratory; recorded from

    Sirohi (Ora, West Banas, Kalkaji, Kadambari)

    76 Common GreenshankTringa

    nebularia (Gunner, 1767)

    Not so common, winter migratory; recorded

    from Dungarpur, Rajsamand, Sirohi and

    Udaipur

    77 Green SandpiperTringa ochropus

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Not so common, winter migratory; recorded

    from Sirohi and Udaipur

    78 Wood SandpiperTringa glareola

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere

    79 Common SandpiperActitis

    hypoleucos Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere

    80 Little Stint Calidris minuta (Leisler,

    1812)

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere but restricted to certain wetlands

    81 Temmincks Stint Calidris

    temminckii (Leisler, 1812)

    Not so common, winter migratory; recorded

    from Sirohi (Ora, West Banas) and Udaipur

    82 Ruff (426) Philomachus pugnax

    (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere but restricted to certain wetlands

    Ibisbill, Avocets & Stilts Recurvirostridae

    83 Black-winged StiltHimantopus

    himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    84 Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaLinnaeus, 1758

    Not so common, winter migratory; recorded

    from Sirohi (Ora, West Banas) and Udaipur

    (Udaipur Lake Complex, Udaisagar)

    Stone-Curlew & Stone-Plovers/Thick-knees Burhinidae

    85 Great Thick-Knee or Great Stone-

    PloverEsacus recurvirostris

    (Cuvier, 1829)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere

    Coursers & Pratincoles Glareolidae

    86 Small Pratincole Glareola lacteaTemminck, 1820

    Not so common, local movement; recorded

    from Dungarpur, Sirohi and Udaipur

    Gulls, Terns & Noddies Laridae

    ? Yellow-legged GullLarus

    cachinnans Pallas, 1811

    ?, ?; recorded from West Banas (Sirohi, Dec

    2005), need authentic confirmation

    87 Brown-headed GullLarus

    brunnicephalus Jerdon, 1840

    Not so common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere but limited to few wetlands, could

    be sighted best at West Banas (Sirohi)

    88 Black-headed GullLarus

    ridibundus Linnaeus, 1766

    Not so common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere but limited to few wetlands, could

    be sighted best at West Banas (Sirohi)89 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon Not so common, passage winter migratory;

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    nilotica (Gmelin, 1789) recorded from Sirohi (Kalkaji) and Udaipur

    (Udaisagar)

    90 River Tern Sterna aurantia J.E.

    Gray, 1831

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    91 Black-bellied Tern NT #Sterna

    acuticauda J.E. Gray, 1831

    Not so common, ?; recorded from Chittorgarh

    (Barwai) and Sirohi (West Banas)92 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias

    hybridus (Pallas, 1811)

    Not so common, ?; recorded from Udaipur

    Lake Complex (Udaipur)

    ? Skimmers Rynchopidae

    ? Indian Skimmer VU #Rynchops

    albicollis Swainson, 1838

    ?, ?; past record from Mount Abu

    Kingfishers Alcedinidae

    93 Common Kingfisher or Small Blue

    KingfisherAlcedo atthis (Linnaeus,

    1758)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere

    94 Oriental Dwarf KingfisherCeyx

    erithaca (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Rare, ?; recorded from Panarwa forests by R.

    Tehsin (Udaipur)

    95 Stork-billed KingfisherHalcyon

    capensis (Linnaeus, 1766)

    Not so common, resident; recorded from

    Banswara and Chittorgarh

    96 White-throated Kingfisher or

    White-breasted KingfisherHalcyon

    smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

    97 Pied Kingfisher or Lesser Pied

    KingfisherCeryle rudis (Linnaeus,

    1758)

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere

    Swallows & Martins

    Hirundinidae

    98 Streak-throated SwallowHirundo

    fluvicola Blyth, 1855

    Common, resident; sighted in the wetlands of

    every district having structures/ bridges/ other

    structures etc. nearby

    Wagtails & Pipits Motacillidae

    99 White WagtailMotacilla alba

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere

    100 White-browed Wagtail or Large

    Pied WagtailMotacilla

    maderaspatensis Gmelin, 1789

    Common, local movement; sighted

    everywhere

    101 Citrine WagtailMotacilla citreola

    Pallas, 1776

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere

    102 Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere103 Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea

    Tunstall, 1771

    Common, winter migratory; sighted

    everywhere

    Goldcrest, Prinias, Tesias, Warblers Sylviinae

    104 Clamorous Reed Warbler or Indian

    Great Reed-WarblerAcrocephalus

    stentoreus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg,

    1833)

    Not so common, winter migratory; sighted in

    the wetlands of Banswara, Dungarpur, Sirohi

    and Udaipur

    Starlings & Mynas Sturnidae

    105 Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra

    Linnaeus, 1758

    Common, resident; sighted everywhere

    106 Bank Myna Acridotheresginginianus (Latham, 1790)

    Very common, resident; sighted everywhere

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    Symbols Description

    # When preceding English name, denotes a species endemic to India.

    CD Conservation Dependent (BirdLife International 2001).CR Critical (BirdLife International 2001).

    DD Data Defficient (BirdLife International 2001).

    EN Endangered (BirdLife International 2001).

    NT Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2001).

    VU Vulnerable (BirdLife International 2001).

    # When preceding Scientific name, denotes a globally threatened or near-

    threatened species