Assessment of status, diversity and threats of wetland birds of Bathi Lake, Doddabathi Village, Davanagere District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

The study revealed a total of 47 wetland bird species belonging to 16 families and 8 orders. Among them the family Ardeidae found to be dominated by the representation of 9 species, followed by the Scolopacidae with 6 species; least by Podicipedidae, Anhingidae, Rostratulidae, Recurvirostridae and Laridae with one species each. The study also revealed that the lake is a vulnerable wetland harboring plenty of resident as well as few migratory birds. Four species like Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus), Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) and River Tern (Sterna aurantia) were near threatened and have a protected status under the schedule IV of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The present study location is also facing tremendous conservation challenges by the impact of anthropogenic alteration of the habitats in and around the lake.