Fresh water reservoirs are suitable habitat for birds along with food and water. In the present study an attempt has been made to assess the diversity of avian fauna in two fresh water reservoirs. Nineteen species of birds were observed, belonging to 9 families in Bhadrakali reservoir and 16 species of birds belonging to 9 families from Waddepelly reservoir. Dominant families of resident water birds were Ardeidae followed by Jacanidae. The migratory birds inhabited the reservoirs in winter months.
Keywords: Avifauna; biodiversity; freshwater; reservoir
Among all terrestrial vertebrates, birds due to their great power of mobility are successful in exploiting a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Each species of bird is adapted to certain habitat and within the environment conditions; it continues its life activities. According to Robbins [1] birds are sensitive indicators of habitat conditions as each bird has its own distinctive breeding even abundance of certain species can be predicted habitat descriptions.
Since birds have a unique status in the food web they become indicators of pollution and other biotic pressures. Where high concentration of bird species occur it is likely that other forms of flora and fauna will occur in similar abundance and variety. The assemblage of birds in the communities is the results of many interacting factors, which are individually insufficient to explain the pattern of bird communities [2]. The bird community in any given habitat changes seasonally also [2, 3, 4]. Interaction of bird species with certain quality of food or to reduce exposure to predation [5, 6].
The water bodies with enough food and weedly vegetation provide a good habitation for the resident and migratory birds. The urban areas are gradually destroying the habitat of water birds. In India 29 water birds are reported as threatened with extinction [7]. India has 243 species of water birds and 67 species of wetland dependent and associated birds [8] almost half of which are migratory and come to the subcontinent from their breeding grounds in northern latitude of China, Russia, Asian countries. Although no regular work on the avifauna of India. The present study deals with the seasonal diversity and abundance of birds fauna in habiting two fresh water reservoirs in urban environment
The present investigation was carried out in two drinking water reservoirs Bhadrakali and Waddepelly of Warangal in urban environment. Bhadrakali reservoir is situated middle of the Warangal city. The reservoir is surround by three sides’ houses and one side by hill. It lies between North latitude 18°.00' and East Longitude 79°.30'. The total area of the reservoir is about 120 hectare. The reservoir supports number fishes, mollusks and aquatic insects and their larvae which form a good food source for arriving birds.
Waddepelly reservoir is situated in the outskirt of Warangal city and is surrounded by one side agriculture fields, where different crops grown. The reservoir supports number of fishes, amphibian, mollusks and aquatic insects as good source for resident birds.
Bird watching and recording has been carried out for a period of one year (June 2015- May 2016) and the observation was made with the aid of a binocular. Photography was done with cannon camera with zooms lenses. Recorded birds were identified by using standard books such as Ali [9], Ali & Riply [10].
Extensive survey revealed the occurrences of nineteen species of birds belonging to nine families of three orders
of birds belonging to eight families of three orders were recorded from Waddepally reservoir (Table 1). The status of bird fauna common, uncommon and rare bird in both reservoirs is presented in table 1. The percentage of birds also presented in Table 2.
Bird community was found highest on Bhadrakali reservoir than the Waddepelly reservoir, little cormorant population was 12-67% and 10-65% in Bhadrakali and Waddepelly Coraciiformes Alcedinidae White breasted kingfisher Gruiformes Rallidae Purple Moorhen or Swamp hen Gruiformes Rallidae Common moorhen Gruiformes Rallidae Purple moorhen Gruiformes Rallidae Common coot Passeriformes Ploceidae Black breasted weaver Passeriformes Motacillidae Western Yellow wagtail Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Indian pond heron Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Larger egret Great Egret Pelecaniformes Ardeidae Little egret Piciformes Picidae Lesser goldenback Suliformes Phalacrocoracidae Indian Cormorant U= Uncommon, C= Common and R=Rare bird reservoirs respectively. It is indicated that such richness of birds in Bhadrakali may be due to some space or food resources as discussed earlier by Hepp (11). A total of 19 species were recorded in Bhadrakali reservoir and 16 species in Waddepelly reservoir. Out of the 19 species 16 species are common in both the reservoirs. Three species were recorded viz Comb duck, Lesser pied kingfisher and Lesser golden in Bhadrhrakali reservoir only.
Halcyon smyrnensis U + + Porphyrio porphyrio C + + Gallinula chloropus C + + Porphyrio porphyrio C + + Fulica atra C + + Ploceus benghalensis C + + Motacilla flava C + + Ardeola grayii C + + Ardea alba C + + Egretta garzetta C + + Dinopium benghalense C + _ Phalacrocorax fuscicollis C + +
It is indicated that Bhadrakali reservoir was more potential than the Waddepelly reservoir for birds’ diversity. It is realized that the birds turn out to be excellent indicator of overall biodiversity such as fishes and zooplankton and benthic fauna etc as the inhabit a broad range of habitats and elevations. Some seasonal changes in water birds number is directly or indirectly connected to the availability of food and water physico-chemical characters. The study is indispensible information for comparison for studies of the
few drinking water reservoirs of Warangal. The study clearly indicates that no much difference are not found in the diversity and abundance of water birds in both reservoirs present in urban environment. At Waddepelly reservoir, intense human activities have been seen. This reservoir receiving agricultural seepage and pass railway tract one side of the reservoir. These may be disturbing the water birds in the waddepelly reservoir.
11.
The diversity of bird species and migration of birds can significantly influence food, space and disturbance of water bodies. The results demonstrate that Bhadrakali reservoir may be suitable for bird’s diversity than Weddapally reservoir. Therefore, species diversity is more in Bhadrakali reservoir than the Weddapally reservoir.