Published Paper Details:

This study has been undertaken to determine the estimated number of wetland and wetland dependent birds observed during the migratory season and find out their diversity in different wetland area of Gumla district. The threats to the specific wetlands were identified and possible recommendations have been suggested. During the study estimated number of 3,784 wetland birds and wetland dependent birds belonging to 41 species and 13 families were recorded. Out of these 33 species were wetland birds (WB) and 8 species were wetland dependent birds (WDB). Out of 41 species, 17 species were resident birds (R) while 9 species was resident migrants (RM), and rest 15 species were winter migratory (WM) birds. Estimated number of 1053 were migratory birds. The maximum number of birds was observed at Sisi Katri dam /Banki Reservoir (1887) followed by Nawagain dam/ Upper Sankh Reservoir (802), Datli Dam (410), Masaria Dam (375), and the minimum number was seen at Dhan Singh dam (310). A comparison between residential status (Resident, Resident Migratory, Winter Migratory) and habits (Wetland Bird, WDB- Wetland Dependent Bird) were made for all five wetlands. The highest number of Migratory and Resident birds were observed at Sisi Katri wetland followed by Upper Sankh wetland, Masaria wetland, Datil wetland and Dhan Singh wetland. The highest number of Wetland birds were observed at Sisi Katri wetland, followed by Upper Sankh wetland, Datil wetland, Masaria wetland and Dhan Singh wetland. The maximum number of species (n =11) recorded from the study area belonged to the family Anatidae comprising of ducks and geese. This was followed by the families Ardeidae (herons, egrets, and bitterns) represented by eight species, and Alcedinidae, Motacillidae, Phalacrocoracidae, and Rallidae represented by three species, respectively. Of the rest, seven families were represented by one to two species only.