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AVIAN DIVERSITY OF BASAI WETLANDS, HARYANA (INDIA) : AN IBA SITE

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 J. Exp. Zool. India Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 109-117, 2017 www.connectjournals.com/jez ISSN 0972-0030

AVIAN DIVERSITY OF BASAI WETLANDS, HARYANA (INDIA) : AN IBA SITE

Deepak Rai, Girish Chopra, Rakesh Gulia* and Parveen Vats
Animal Behaviour & Wildlife Conservation Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136 119, India.
*e-mail : rakeshgulia1@gmail.com
(Accepted 18 August 2016)

ABSTRACT : The avian diversity of Basai Wetlands (an IBA site) was studied from October, 2015 to June, 2016. Basai Wetands
is located at 28°292 N and 76°592 E in the Gurgaon (now Gurugram) district of Haryana, close to Delhi, and is among one of
the five IBAs of Haryana. Results revealed a total of 128 species of birds belonging to 15 orders and 37 families. The order
Passeriformes was found to be dominant, consisting of 12 families and 40 species, while among the families; family Anatidae
was dominant with 15 species from order Anseriformes.Out of the 128 species of birds, 79 species were Resident (R), 45 were
Winter Migrant (WM) and 4 were Summer Migrant (SM). According to the IUCN Red List version 3.1, 7 species were Near
Threatened (NT), 4 species were Vulnerable (VU) and 2species were Endangered (EN). Various stress factors were observed in
and around the study site which are responsible for habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation and habitat destruction. For long
term management of this crucial IBA site of Haryana, proper action plan and regulation strategies are needed.
Key words : Fallow lands, IBAs, habitat fragmentation, wetlands.

INTRODUCTION In recent years many workers have done studies

Wetlands are important ecosystems appreciated for relatedto the avian diversity of wetlands in India (Harvey,
providing quality and abundant habitats for avifaunal 2003; Urfi, 2003; Sisodia andMoundiotiya, 2005; Gupta
populations throughout the year and thus a considerable and Kaushik, 2008; Kumar and Gupta, 2009; Pawar et
number of wetlands are declared as IBAs (Important al, 2010; Gupta and Kaushik, 2011; Joshi and Shrivastava,
Bird and Biodiversity Areas) by BirdLife International. 2012; Chopra et al, 2012; Chopra et al, 2013; Patil and
IBAs include sites used for breeding, wintering, and/or Hiragond, 2013; Harney, 2015; Kumar et al, 2016). Basai
migrating purpose by birds. Of the 1340 bird species Wetlands (an IBA site) supports resident birds throughout
reported from India (Ali and Ripley, 1987), about 23% the year, while acting as a refuge to the migratory birds
bird species are known to be dependent on wetlands during the winter season. But in recent years there has
(Kumar et al, 2005). Monitoring of the wetland birds been a rapid increase in the urbanization around this site.
provides valuable information on the ecological health and So, keeping in view the ecological importance of Basai
status of wetlands and this information can be used as a Wetlands,the present study was planned with an objective
vital tool for developing awareness regarding the to monitor and document the diversity and conservational
conservation value of the wetlands.Wetland avifauna acts status of avifauna of this site.
as indicators of wetland quality, and parameters for MATERIALS AND METHODS
assessing restoration success and regional biodiversity Study area
(Kumar and Gupta, 2009). Wetlands in India are under
Basai wetlands, located at 28°292 N latitude and
tremendous pressure due to various anthropogenic
76°592 E longitude in Gurgaon (now Gurugram) district
activities such as reclamation, deforestation and extensive
is among one of the five IBAs of Haryana. This IBA is
concrete construction (Kler, 2002; Verma et al, 2004).
located about 2 km west of Gurgaon city and 8 km east
The birds are very sensitive to such activities and do
of Sultanpur National Park (Fig. 1). Basai, Dhanwapur
respond by changes in species composition and density.
and Dhankot villages surround the Basai Wetlands and it
Unfortunately the impacts of these changes on bird
covers an area of 100 hectares.The study area comprises
community composition; structure and diversity are yet
diverse habitats viz. aquatic, scrubby forest, agricultural,
to be fully understood. It should however be remembered
residential area and fallow land. The temperature varies
that the failure to understand the consequence of changes
from a low of 5°C in winter to a high of 46°C in summer
in these natural habitats on wetland biodiversity is likely
with a normal annual rainfall of 596 mm (BirdLife
to increase the human pressure on wetland natural
International, 2015).
resources including birds (Bibby et al, 2000).
110 Deepak Rai et al

Fig. 1 : Location of Basai Wetlands (An IBA site) in district Gurgaon, Haryana (India).

Fig. 2 : Pie chart representing distribution of avian species in different

orders.

Methods Fig. 3 : Bar diagram representing the status of bird species in the
study area.
Regular fortnightly visits were made to the study site
from October, 2015 to June, 2016, to document the avian according to Manakadan and Pittie (2001). The
diversity by using Line Transect method (Gaston, 1975). Residential Status of birds was assigned into Resident
Total 5 transects varying in length of 1.0-1.3 km were (R), Winter Migrant (WM) and Summer Migrant (SM)
selected.Field visit data was collected during all day from categories following Grimmett and Inskipp (2003).
6:00AM in the morning upto 6:00PM in the evening. Birds Conservation status of different species was assigned
were observed with the help of Nikon Action 10x50mm using IUCN Red List version 3.1.
binoculars and whenever possible photographs were taken RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
with Canon Powershot SX50HS camera. Identification In spite of its small size, Basai Wetlands, as an IBA,
of birds was done using field guides by Ali and Ripley, supports a good number of orders and families of birds,
1987; Grimmett et al, 1998 and checklist was prepared owing to its diverse habitats. During the study period, a
 Avian diversity of Basai wetlands, Haryana (India) 111

Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) Painted Stork (Mycterialeucocephala)

Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchusasiaticus) Oriental White Ibis (Threskiornismelanocephalus)

Black Tailed Godwit (Limosalimosa) Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittaculaeupatria)

Plate 1 :

total 128species of birds belonging to 15 orders and 37 Basai Wetlands which comprised 240 species.
families were observed. A checklist of the birds along In present study, out of the observed 15 orders, the
with their IUCN conservation status and residential status order with maximum number of species was
is given in Table 1. Earlier studies have reported significant Passeriformes (40); followed by Charadriiformes (20);
number of avian species from this and other IBAs of Anseriformes (15); Ciconiiformes (15); Falconiformes
Haryana. Harvey (2003) gave a checklist of avifauna of
112 Deepak Rai et al

White-necked Stork (Ciconiaepiscopus) Sarus Crane (Grusantigone)

Egyptian Vulture (Neophronpercnopterus) Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Anthropogenic activities Developmental activities like road making

Plate 2 :

(7); Gruiformes (7); Coraciiformes (5); Pelecaniformes bymaximum (15) number of species.The second largest
(4); Columbiformes (4); Galliformes (3); Cuculiformes family wasMuscicapidae with 13 species. Family
(3);Psittaciformes (2); while orders with minimum number Scolopacidae was third with 12 species. Next were the
of species were Podicipediformes (1); families Motacillidae and Ardeidae, each represented by
Phoenicopteriformes (1); and Piciformes (1) (Fig. 2). 8 species; followed by family Accipitridae (7), while
Among the 37 families,family Anatidae,was represented families Rallidaeand Sturnidae comprised 6 species each.
 Avian diversity of Basai wetlands, Haryana (India) 113
Table 1 : A checklist of Avian Diversity of Basai Wetlands, Haryana (India).
S. Common Name Scientific Name Order Family IUCN Residential
No. status status
1 Little Grebe Tachybaptusruficollis Podicipediformes Podicipedidae LC R
2 Little Cormorant Phalacrocoraxniger LC R
3 Indian Shag Phalacrocoraxfuscicollis Pelecaniformes Phalacrocoracidae LC R
4 Great Cormorant Phalacrocoraxcarbo LC R
5 Darter Anhinga melanogaster Anhingidae NT R
6 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis LC R
7 Little Egret Egrettagarzetta LC R
8 Median Egret Mesophoyxintermedia LC R
9 Large Egret Casmerodiusalbus LC R
10 Grey Heron Ardeacinerea LC R
11 Purple Heron Ardeapurpurea LC R
12 Indian Pond Heron Ardeolagrayii Ciconiiformes Ardeidae LC R
13 Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticoraxnycticorax LC R
14 Painted Stork Mycterialeucocephala NT R
15 White-necked Stork Ciconiaepiscopus Ciconiidae VU R
16 Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchusasiaticus NT R
17 Glossy Ibis Plegadisfalcinellus LC R
18 Oriental White Ibis Threskiornismelanocephalus Threskiornithidae NT R
19 Black Ibis Pseudibispapillosa LC R
20 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalealeucorodia LC R
21 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterusruber Phoenicopteriformes Phoenicopteridae LC WM
22 Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygnajavanica LC SM
23 Greylag Goose Anseranser LC WM
24 Bar-headed Goose Anserindicus LC WM
25 BrahminyShelduck Tadornaferruginea LC WM
26 Comb Duck Sarkidiornismelanotos LC R
27 Gadwall Anasstrepera LC WM
28 Eurasian Wigeon Anaspenelope LC WM
29 Spot-billed Duck Anaspoecilorhyncha LC R
30 Northern Shoveller Anasclypeata Anseriformes Anatidae LC WM
31 Northern Pintail Anasacuta LC WM
32 Garganey Anasquerquedula LC WM
33 Common Teal Anascrecca LC WM
34 Common Pochard Aythyaferina VU WM
35 Ferruginous Pochard Aythyanyroca NT WM
36 Tufted Pochard Aythyafuligula LC WM
37 Black-shouldered Kite Elanuscaeruleus LC R
38 Black Kite Milvusmigrans LC R
39 Egyptian Vulture Neophronpercnopterus Falconiformes Accipitridae EN R
40 Western Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus LC WM
Table 1 continued....
114 Deepak Rai et al
Table 1 continued...
41 Shikra Accipiter badius LC R
42 Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga VU WM
43 Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis EN WM
44 Black Francolin Francolinusfrancolinus LC R
45 Grey Francolin Francolinuspondicerianus Galliformes Phasianidae LC R
46 Indian Peafowl Pavocristatus LC R
47 Sarus Crane Grusantigone Gruidae VU R
48 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornisphoenicurus LC R
49 Spotted Crake Porzanaporzana LC R
50 Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzanafusca Gruiformes Rallidae LC R
51 Purple Moorhen Porphyrioporphyrio LC R
52 Common Moorhen Gallinulachloropus LC R
53 Common Coot Fulicaatra LC WM
54 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianuschirurgus Jacanidae LC SM
55 Little Ringed Plover Charadriusdubius LC R
56 Kentish Plover Charadriusalexandrinus LC WM
57 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellusindicus Charadriidae LC R
58 White-tailed Lapwing Vanellusleucurus LC WM
59 Common Snipe Gallinagogallinago LC WM
60 Black Tailed Godwit Limosalimosa NT WM
61 Spotted Redshank Tringaerythropus LC WM
62 Common Redshank Tringatotanus LC WM
63 Common Greenshank Tringanebularia LC WM
64 Marsh Sandpiper Tringastagnatilis LC WM
65 Green Sandpiper Tringaochropus Charadriiformes Scolopacidae LC WM
66 Wood Sandpiper Tringaglareola LC WM
67 Common Sandpiper Actitishypoleucos LC WM
68 Little Stint Calidrisminuta LC WM
69 Temminck’s Stint Calidristemminckii LC WM
70 Ruff Philomachuspugnax LC WM
71 Black-winged Stilt Himantopushimantopus Recurvirostridae LC R
72 Pied Avocet Recurvirostraavosetta LC WM
73 Black-headed Gull Larusridibundus Laridae LC WM
74 Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia LC R
75 Little Brown Dove Streptopeliasenegalensis LC R
76 Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopeliadecaocto Columbiformes Columbidae LC R
77 Yellow-legged Green-Pigeon Treronphoenicoptera LC R
78 Alexandrine Parakeet Psittaculaeupatria Psittaciformes Psittacidae NT R
79 Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittaculakrameri LC R
80 Pied Crested Cuckoo Clamatorjacobinus LC SM
81 Asian Koel Eudynamysscolopacea Cuculiformes Cuculidae LC R
82 Greater Coucal Centropussinensis LC R
83 White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Alcedinidae LC R
84 Small Bee-eater Meropsorientalis LC R
85 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Meropspersicus Coraciiformes Meropidae LC SM
Table 1 continued....
 Avian diversity of Basai wetlands, Haryana (India) 115
Table 1 continued...
86 Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Coraciidae LC R
87 Common Hoopoe Upupaepops Upupidae LC R
88 Coppersmith Barbet Megalaimahaemacephala Piciformes Capitonidae LC R
89 Common Crested Lark Galerida cristata Alaudidae LC R
90 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundos mithii Hirundinidae LC R
91 White Wagtail Motacilla alba LC WM
92 Large Pied Wagtail Motacillamaderaspatensis LC R
93 Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola LC WM
94 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava LC WM
95 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Motacillidae LC WM
96 Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus LC R
97 Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris LC WM
98 Rosy Pipit Anthus roseatus LC WM
99 Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Pycnonotidae LC R
100 Rufous-tailed Shrike Lanius isabellinus Laniidae LC R
101 Rufous-backed Shrike Lanius schach LC R
102 Bluethroat Luscinias vecica LC WM
103 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis LC R
104 Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata LC R
105 Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata LC WM
106 Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata LC R
107 Indian Chat Cercomela fusca LC R
108 Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus LC R
109 Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus LC R
110 Ashy Prinia Prinias ocialis Passeriformes Muscicapidae LC R
111 Plain Prinia Priniain ornata LC R
112 Indian Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus LC R
113 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita LC WM
114 Common Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca LC WM
115 Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica Nectariniidae LC R
116 Red Munia Amandavaamandava Estrildidae LC R
117 White-throated Munia Lonchuram alabarica LC R
118 House Sparrow Passer domesticus Passeridae LC R
119 Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar LC R
120 Brahminy Starling Sturnuspa godarum LC R
121 Rosy Starling Sturnusroseus LC WM
122 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris Sturnidae LC WM
123 Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra LC R
124 Common Myna Acridotherestristis LC R
125 Bank Myna Acridotheresginginianus LC R
126 Black Drongo Dicrurusmacrocercus Dicruridae LC R
127 Indian Treepie Dendrocittavagabunda Corvidae LC R
128 House Crow Corvussplendens LC R
116 Deepak Rai et al
4 species were present in each of the families hyacinth which is spreading at a rapid rate in the wetlands,
Threskiornithidae, Charadriidae and Columbidae. Next lack of permanent and clean water source, etc. (Plate
were families Phalacrocoracidae, Ciconiidae, Phasianidae II). All these factors are affecting the avian diversity of
and Cuculidae, with 3 species each. 2 species were found this site. For long term management of this IBA site of
in the families,Recurvirostridae, Psittacidae, Meropidae, Haryana, proper action plan and regulation strategies are
Laniidae, Estrildidae, Passeridae andDicruridae each. All needed.
the remaining 15 families were represented by 1 species ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
only. Chopra et al (2012) reported 113 species of birds
Authors are highly thankful to Vice-Chancellor,
belonging to 14 orders, 35 families and 80 genera from
Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra and Chairperson,
Sultanpur National Park, Haryana. Maximum 41 species
Department of Zoology for providing necessary research
belonging to 12 families of order Passeriformes
facilities to carry out this work.
represented 36.28% of the total identified avian fauna
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