Effect of Anthropogenic Factors on Migratory Birds Diversity in Wetlands of Paschim Medinipur District of West Bengal, India

Human activities play an important role to change habitat structure, resource availability, disturbance regimes and ecosystem of wetlands which leading to change in abundance, diversity and activity of migratory waterfowl. The present study investigates that the effect of human disturbance like agricultural activities, sand mines, fisheries, industrial contamination water of wetlands on population and diversity of waterbirds at Kankabati and Samat wetland of Paschim Medinipur district in West Bengal state in winter season. During winter season Lesser Whistling Duck, Little Grebe, Common Moorhen are habitual visitor. Among long distance migratory Wader Citrine and White Wagtail along with Common Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper, Temminck’s Stint, Little Ringed Plover are regular. Results show a negative association between anthropogenic factors (human disturbance) intensity and Waterbird abundance and richness both, with the strongest impacts on large-bodied and easily flushed species (e.g., herons, storks, and some waterfowl).