Diversity and abundance of wetland avifauna at Malkhed lake of Amravati region, Maharashtra, India.

Abstract

Wetlands serve as dynamic theatres of avian diversity. Resident and migratory birds are ecologically dependent on wetlands. Malkhed Lake is a large freshwater body located within the Pohara-Malkhed forest landscape, 20 km toward south of Amravati City. A scientific study has not been carried out on avian diversity at Malkhed Lake; therefore, the present work was carried out to document the diversity, abundance, and species richness of birds associated with the wetlands. The study was conducted from January 2020 to July 2021, and four visits were made to the study area monthly. A point count was used for the wetland birds. Recorded 117 bird species belonging to 23 families across the study site over a period of one and a half years. Based on observations, 51 species were widespread residents, 50 species were widespread winter visitors, passage visitors were 8, breeding migrants were 3, and only four were resident migrants. The families Anatidae and Scolopacidae recorded the highest number of bird species. Greater Flamingo, Red-necked Phalarope, and Pacific Golden Plover are passage migrants, and Grey-headed Lapwing is generally considered wagrant and rarely seen but was also sighted in the study area. The species diversity index was recorded and the result was like The Simpson Diversity Index is 0.9770, showing a high degree of diversity (0.81-0.99), and the and the Shannon Diversity Index is 4.08, showing very high diversity (>3.5 and above). The present study revealed that Malkhed Lake exhibited rich avian diversity. This preliminary avian diversity data for the Malkhed Lake will be useful to study long-term seasonal changes in avifauna and to examine the relationship between birds and wetland habitats.