Diversity of Riverine Birds in Melghat Landscape, Maharashtra India

Birds are useful bioindicators and provide conducive dispersal pathways and sufficient cover for migrating birds. As there is a lack of data regarding riverine avian diversity, the present study was carried out from November 2022 to December 2023. The study was done along the rivers flowing through the Melghat landscape in the district of Amravati India. The presence of birds in the area was recorded by a line transect and point count method using binoculars and DSLR cameras. A total of 245 birds belonging to 54 families were recorded. Out of which, 72 species from 20 families of water birds were recorded in the riverine zone and 173 species from 34 families of forest birds were recorded in the riverine zone. The majority of the observed species belonged to the Anatidae family followed by Ardeidae and Scolopacidae. Similarly, the Corvidae, Muscicapidae, and Sylviidae families show the maximum number of forest birds. According to the IUCN status, 87% of species associated with water are classified as least concern (LC), 10% as near-threatening (NT), only 3% are vulnerable. Similarly, for forest recorded birds, it is categorized as 98% species of least concern (LC), and only 2% are categorized as near-threatened (NT). Maximum species diversity was recorded with the forest bird associated in the riverine zone (D = 0.991 and H = 4.903), and minimum was recorded with the water bird associated in the riverine zone (D = 0.973 and H = 3.961). The study showed riverine avian diversity and threats in rivers.