Occurrence and documentation of stork species in selected water bodies of Kota region, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Storks are huge wading birds found throughout the Indian subcontinent. They are members of the order Ciconiiformes and have lengthy bills, necks, and legs. The Ciconiidae family is intimately related to wetlands, marshes, and swamps. The study was carried out for four years (January 2020 to December 2023) to determine the occurrence and distribution of stork species in India's drought-prone Kota region. The line transect and point count methods were used for road surveys and field visits. Despite its harsh climate, the Kota region is fortunate to host six species of storks (three resident and three winter migratory). The six species were sighted alone, in flocks, and in mixed flocks. They were seen foraging and resting in reservoirs, rivers, seasonal ponds, and agricultural fields with water. Seasonally, the type of bird flocks was changed. Sand mining in rivers, the disappearance of seasonal ponds, and severe changes in agricultural practices pose a serious threat to storks and other wetland birds. It is critical to include local communities in the conservation of the stork species.