Wetland Bird Assemblage in Rural Ponds of Kurukshetra, India

Small sized, man-made, perennial and primarily rain-fed ponds occur widely in the rural landscape of India. These wetlands provide suitable habitats and food resources for a wide variety of resident and migratory wetland birds. Wetland birds in six rural ponds of Kurukshetra District, Haryana, in northern India were surveyed from April 2011 to May 2014 to determine status. Point counts and direct observations were used to record bird species. Sixty-nine species of wetland birds belonging to 47 genera and 20 families were identified. Family Anatidae dominated the avifauna with 20% (n = 14) of the species found. Of the species documented, 54% (n = 37) were winter migrants, 7% (n = 5) were summer migrants and 39% (n = 27) were residents. Among recorded species, Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), Oriental White Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) and River Tern (Sterna aurantia) are considered as near threatened; Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos), Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) and Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The occurrence of migrants and special-status species documents the importance of these rural ponds as habitats for wetland birds in India. However, anthropogenic and developmental activities in and around these ponds are posing significant threats. The present study provides baseline information on wetland birds of these ponds for future monitoring, conservation planning and the development of pertinent management interventions.