Jalaplavit_vol10_no2_June-July_2020

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 moderate water flows (Yang et al. Drainage Board of Mayiladuthurai 2019). Typha vegetation plays a very municipality, Tamil Nadu, acts as a important role in wetland ecology at home to inland and migratory wetland sites where it occurs, by providing food, birds visiting India. The STP is composed shelter and nesting sites for waterfowl, of two different structures – the first fish and other wildlife (CABI website). being the WSP which is homogenous in Lesser Whistling-Duck is a waterbird nature with deep water and no aquatic which is the smallest of all the whistling vegetation and the other a sewage ducks found on lakes, ponds, flooded marsh (SM) created due to water fields, reservoirs, marshes, mangroves seepage from the WSP which is a and coastal lagoons dominated with heterogeneous habitat with different abundant marshy vegetation and water levels and vegetation. Then the surrounded by trees, used for roosting, treated water in the sewage marsh is let but also occurs in less-wooded areas and into a natural channel and utilized for even in villages provided suitable agriculture. The total area of WSP is waterbodies are present (Carboneras 6.4639 acres and the sewage marsh is and Kirwan 2020). about 4.5676 acres. Prasath Selvaraj The total bird count was done in all the micro-habitats in the evening Lesser Whistling-Ducks seen on the open hours (16:00 – 18:00 hrs) from January water in the WSP after the removal of 2019 to March 2020 covering the Typha angustifolia on 24 January 2019 migratory and post-migratory seasons to investigate the status of waterbird The Sewage Treatment Plant species in this area. During the (STP) in Mannampandal functioning investigation, so far we have recorded under Tamil Nadu Water Supply and 35 species of waterbirds. The data on habitat usage of Lesser Whistling-Ducks in two habitats – WSP and SM in STP – statistical analysis was analyzed done by (SPSS Inc. Version 51

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 16.0.) using Independent 't' test, where Lesser Whistling-Duck in SoIB 2020 P level is set at 0.05. The study shows that significantly more number of Lesser As per the “State of India’s Birds 2020” Whistling-Ducks (t = 3.52, df = 128, P = (SoIB-2020), the long-term abundance 0.001) had visited WSP habitat (18.25 ± trend for this species is “stable”, but the 4. 99) than SM (0.68 ± 0.23). It shows current trend is “moderately declining”. It that ducks prefer the habitat with deep has a “very large” distribution range. water much more the habitat with shallow water. References CABI, 2020. Invasive Species According to (Martins et al. Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB 2017), Lesser Whistling-Ducks prefer International. thick vegetation to hide and nest in grasses adjacent to waterbodies. <https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/54294> Unfortunately, the removal of the vegetation in the WSP has very much Carboneras, C. and G. M. Kirwan (2020). effected the Lesser Whistling-Ducks Lesser Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna using the STP. The usage of artificial Javanica) version 1.0. In Birds of the wetlands, including WSPs, by waterbirds World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. in the current scenario is typically Sargatal, D. A. Christie and E. de Juana, opportunistic but little consideration Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, has been given by managers of WSPs to Ithaca, NY, USA. the potential implications for either wastewater treatment or waterbird <https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.lewduc1.01> conservation objectives (Murray et al. 2010, 2014). Hence we suggest that it is Murray, C. and A. Hamilton (2010). important to conserve the artificial REVIEW: Perspectives on wastewater wetlands for the survival of the treatment wetlands and waterbird waterbirds in future. conservation. Journal of Applied Ecology. 47. 976 – 985. Website URL: <10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01853.x [Accessed on 26 April 2020].> 52

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Murray, C., S. Kasel, E. Szantyr, R. Barratt, About the Authors and A. Hamilton, (2014). Waterbird use of different treatment stages in waste- Prasath Selvaraj is Master’s Student in stabilisation pond systems. Emu. 114. 30. the PG and Research Department of Website URL: 10.1071/MU12121. [Accessed Zoology and Wildlife Biology, AVC on 26 April 2020]. College, Mayiladuthurai. He is working on the waterbirds population characteristics Martins, C. O, M. N. Rajpar, S. Nurhidayu pertaining to sewage treatment plant in and M. Zakaria (2017). Habitat Selection of Mayiladuthurai for his Master’s thesis. Dendrocygna javanica in Heterogeneous Lakes of Malaysia. 6. 1000183. Dr. R. Nagarajan is the Principal of AVC College, Mayiladuthurai and Honorary SoIB 2020. State of India’s Birds factsheet: Associate Professor in the School of Pscychology, University of Exeter, United Lesser Whistling Duck. Dendrocygna Kingdom. He was the Former Commonwealth Scholar, Leverhulme javanica. Website URL: Trust, London. https://www.stateofindiasbirds.in/species /lewduc1/. [Accessed on 2020-07-06]. Yang, Z. D, S. B. Yuan, X. Q. Liu and H.Z. Wang, (2019). Water Level Fluctuation Requirements of Emergent Macrophyte Typha angustifolia L. Water. 12: 127:1-15 <https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010127> [Accessed on 26 April 2020]. Zou, Y.A, B.H. Pan, H. Zhang, P.Y. Zhang, Y. Yao, X. K. Liu, D. L. Gao and Y.H. Xie, (2017). Impacts of microhabitat changes on wintering waterbird populations. Scientific Reports.7. <10.1038/s41598-017-14317-9> [Accessed on 26 April 2020]. 53

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol.10, No.2, June–July 2020 Glimpses of 2004 Tsunami-created Wetlands and their Birds, South Andaman, India 1Neelam Purti, V Shiva Shankar, C. Ramayya, Satyajit Halder Email of corresponding Author1: [email protected] Andaman and Nicobar Islands for demarcating tsunami created wetlands (TCW’s) of the south Andaman. (ANIs) have been a cradle of multiple Birds were observed directly as prescribed by (Altaman, 1974) and disasters like cyclones, floods, droughts, identified using keys of (Ali 2002, Grimett et al., 2012). land degradation, run-off, soil erosion, Literature speaks a lot about the shallow landslides, earthquakes, wetland avian diversity of ANIs. This is one of the pioneering attempts to volcanism, storm surges and tsunami scientifically document the birds in TCWs. However, an attempt was also (Shiva Shankar, 2019). ANIs constitute a made by Rajan and Pramod (2017) to document the birds inhabiting TCWs, Union Territory of Indian sovereign in but the attempts were limited to the TCWs of Sippighat, Stewartgunj and Bay of Bengal. They were the prime Ograbraj. Actually, there are quite a few TCWs. Using a satellite image, 43 responders of 2004 tsunami in Indian TCWs were identified in south Andaman (Fig.1). All these TCWs were situated in sub-continent (Shiva Shankar et al., the coastal regions mostly adjacent to mangrove swamps. Being situated in the 2019). The 2004 tsunami was caused by tropical belt, the region receives copious amount of rainfall (3000mm/ a mega earthquake resulting in year). Most of the TCWs are fed by both tidal influx and streams. Wetland birds subsidence and upliftment of the land 54 mass and they were observed at many places of ANIs (Nehru and Balasubraminian, 2016; 2018). Permanent waterlogged areas were observed in the zones of subsidence (Shiva Shankar et al., 2019). These water logged areas in subsided zones formed wetland habitats. First of all, a 2018 Landsat satellite image was downloaded from website www.earthexplorer.usgs.gov

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol.10, No.2, June–July 2020 are recent inclusion in the TCWs by ilicifolius followed by mangrove species nature. Otherwise, TCWs were originally like Avicennia spp./Rhizophora spp. hostile for macro-flora and macro-fauna (Shiva Shankar et al., 2019). The plants since they were wet saline and poorly like Fimbristylis littoralis, Acrostichum aerated (Schuster, 1952; Emerit, 1960). aureum and Acanthus ilicifolius which Firstly, microbes might have played were not only conducive for the nesting their role in these TCWs followed by of the wetland birds, but also provided plants like Fimbristylis littoralis, plentiful food in TCWs ensuring their Acrostichum aureum and Acanthus sustenance. Figure 1: Map showing Tsunami Created Wetland’s in south Andaman 55

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol.10, No.2, June–July 2020 A total of 50 wetland birds Rest of the birds were Least Concern belonging to five orders viz., (LC). The birds were verified using the Anseriformes, Apodiformes, checklists by Pande et al. (2007) and Charadiiformes, Ciconiiformes and (Sivaperuman et al., 2018). A complete Gruiformes were identified. The checklist of the recorded birds is given wetlands were found to be dominated as Table 1. by the birds of the order Charadiiformes Pre-tsunami personal followed by Ciconiiformes. Andaman observations of the authors and study of Teal and Andaman Crake that were the satellite images indicate that these recorded are endemic to ANIs. Andaman TCWs have replaced agriculture land, Teal is listed as a Vulnerable (VU) human settlements and/or open jungles species, whereas Andaman Crake, Bar- that originally occurred in the past. tailed Godwit and Eurasian Curlew that The TCW habitats are threatened were recorded are the Near Threatened by hunting and rapid reclamation since (NT) species on the IUCN Red List (v3.1). they are under the private ownership. Table 1: List of Waterbirds in Tsunami-created Wetlands (TCWs) SN Order Common Name Scientific Name Status IUCN Red List status 1 Andaman Teal* Anas gibberifrons R VU 2 Anseriformes Cotton Teal Nettapus coromandelianus R LC 3 Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica R LC 4 Apodiformes Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta R LC 5 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica WM NT 6 Black Naped Tern Sterna sumatrana R LC 7 Common Red Shank Tringa totanus WM LC 8 Common Sand Piper Actitis hypoleucos WM LC 9 Common Snipe Gallinaga gallinago WM LC 10 Charadiiformes Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata WM NT 11 Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii WM LC 12 Green Sand Piper Tringa ochropus WM LC 13 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola WM LC 14 Lesser Sand-Plover Charadius mongolus WM LC 15 Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius WM LC 56

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol.10, No.2, June–July 2020 SN Order Common Name Scientific Name Status IUCN Red List 16 Little Stint Calidris minuta WM 17 Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta WM status 18 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis WM LC 19 Pacific Golden Plover WM LC 20 Pheasant Tailed Jacana Pluvialis fulva WM LC 21 Pin Tailed Snipe Hydrophasianus chirurgus WM LC 22 Terek Sand Piper WM LC 23 Whimbrel Gallinago stenura WM LC 24 Wood Sandpiper Xenus cinereus WM LC 25 Common Green Shank WM LC 26 Lesser Crested Tern Numenius phaeopus WM LC 27 Ruddy Turnstone Actitis glareola WM LC 28 Cattle Egret Tringa nebularia R LC 29 Chinese Pond Heron WM LC 30 Cinnamon Bittern Thalasseus bengalensis R LC 31 Great Egret Arenaria interpres R LC 32 Indian Pond Heron Bubulcus ibis R LC 33 Intermediate Egret Ardeola bacchus R LC 34 Little /Striated Heron R LC 35 Ciconiiformes Little Egret Ixobrychus cinnamomeus R LC 36 Malayan Night Heron Casmerodius albus R LC 37 Pacific Reef Egret Ardeola grayii R LC 38 Purple Heron R LC 39 Yellow Bittern Mesophoyx intermedia WM LC 40 Blue-eared Kingfisher Butorides striata R LC 41 Stork-billed Kingfisher Egretta garzetta R LC 42 White-throated Kingfisher R LC 43 Gruiformes Andaman Crake* Gorsachius melanolophus R LC 44 Baillon's Crake Egretta sacra WM LC 45 Common Moorhen R NT 46 Purple Swamphen Ardea purpurea R LC 47 Ruddy Breasted Crake Ixobrychus sinensis WM LC 48 Slaty-breasted Rail Alcedo meninting R LC 49 Water Cock Pelargopsis capensis R LC Halcyon smyrnensis LC LC Rallina canningi Porzana pusilla Gallinula chloropus Porphyrio porphyrio Porzana fusca Gallirallus striatus Gallicrex cinerea 57

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol.10, No.2, June–July 2020 SN Order Common Name Scientific Name Status IUCN Red List status 50 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus R LC LC'- Least Concern, 'NT'- Near Threatened, 'VU'-Vulnerable, '*'-Endemic, 'R' - Resident and 'WM' - Winter migrant S. Halder S. Halder C. Ramayya Neelam Purti C. Ramayya C. Ramayya Figure 2: a) Andaman Teal, b) Cinnamon Bittern, c) Cotton Pygmy-Goose, d) Eurasian Curlew, e) Grey-headed Swamphen, and f) Lesser Whistling-Duck 58

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol.10, No.2, June–July 2020 C. Ramayya S. Halder S. Halder Neelam Purti Neelam Purti Neelam Purti Figure 3: a) Pacific Reef Egret, b) Pheasant Tailed Jacana, c) Water Cock, d) Stork-billed Kingfisher, e) Striated Heron, and f) White-breasted Waterhen 59

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol.10, No.2, June–July 2020 References Pande, S., N. Sant, S. Ranade, S. Pednekar, P. Ali, S. (2002). The book of Indian birds. Mestry, P. Deshpande, S. Kharat and V. Bombay natural History Society. Thirteenth Deshmukh (2007). Avifaunal survey of Edition Oxford University Press. Andaman and Nicobar islands. Indian Birds, ISBN:0195665236. 3(5):162-180. Altman, J. (1974). Observational study of Rajan, P. & P. Pramod (2017). Bird community behaviour: sampling methods. Behaviour response to Tsunami-affected wetlands of 49: 227-267. South Andaman Island, India. Indian Birds, 13.5:125-131. Emerit, M. (1960). Etude granulométrique de la mangrove de Joal, Senegal. Ann. Fac. Schuster, W. H. (1952). Fish Culture in Sci. University Dakar, 5,107-115. brackish water ponds of Java. Spec. Publ. Indo Pac Fish Counc., no.1. Grimett, R., C. Inskipp and T. Inskipp (2012). Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Sivaperuman, C., G. Gokulakrishnan, P.C. Rasmussen and P. Parthipan (2018). Second Edition. Christopher Avianfauna of Andaman and Nicobar Islands with an updated checklist. Vertebrate Faunal Helm Publishing Company. Diversity, Conservation and Management Volume 2, 93-137, Nehru, P. and P. Balasubramanian (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6983- Re-colonizing mangrove species in tsunami 3_6 devastated habitats at Nicobar Islands, India. Check List, 7(3):253–256. https://doi.org/10.15560/7.3.253. Nehru, P. and P. Balasubramanian (2018). Shiva Shankar, V. (2019). Andaman and Nicobar Islands cradle of multi disasters. ISBN: Mangrove species diversity and composition 9789389146544 in the successional habitats of Nicobar Islands, India: A post-tsunami and Shiva Shankar, V., G. Narshimulu, T. Kaviarasan, subsidence scenario. Forest Ecology and ,S. Narayani, K. Dharanirajan, R. A. James and Management, 427,70-77, P. R. Singh (2019). 2004 Post Tsunami Resilience https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.05. and Recolonization of Mangroves in South Andaman, India. Wetlands. 063. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-019-01211-5. 60

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol.10, No.2, June–July 2020 About the Authors Neelam Purti, Forest Ranger Dr. V. Shiva Shankar, (Wildlife photographer & Bird Watcher) (Independent Researcher) C. Ramayya, Forest Guard Satyajit Halder, Forest Guard (Wildlife Photographer & Bird Watcher) (Wildlife Photographer & Bird Watcher) 61

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 India’s Perspective on Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem 1Kanchan Puri and Dr. Ritesh Joshi Email of corresponding author1: [email protected] Mangroves form highly mangroves, UNESCO has designated 26 July as ‘International Day for the productive ecosystems that occupy the Conservation of the Mangrove boundary between land and sea. They Ecosystem’. Adopted by the General are the halophytes (growing in saline Conference of UNESCO in 2015, this day coastal sediments) with adaptations like underlines the importance of mangrove sunken stomata, aerial breathing roots ecosystems as “a unique, special and called pneumatophores and stilt roots. vulnerable ecosystem, providing by Their complex root systems trap the virtue of their existence, biomass and sediments and store carbon (highly productivity substantial benefits to effective carbon sinks) from the human beings, providing forestry, atmosphere and ocean, mitigating the fishery goods and services as well as effects of climate change and extreme contributing to the protection of the weather events (act as natural coastal coastline and being particularly defense against storm surges, tsunamis). relevant in terms of mitigation of the effects of climate change and food Crisscrossed by creeks of security for local communities”. stagnant water and tidal flows, mangroves give shelter to a wide variety The first International Day for the of birds and provide a valuable nursery Conservation of the Mangrove habitat for fish and crustaceans Ecosystems was celebrated in 2016 for (breeding and feeding). A good preserving all mangrove ecosystems and mangrove vegetation means good taking forward the 2030 Agenda for healthy coastal ecosystems. To raise Sustainable Development. awareness on the importance of the 62

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Puducherry 2 616 Area in sq.km Daman and Diu 3 251 2112 A&N Islands 45 320 West Bengal 1177 Tamil Nadu 9 404 10 Odisha 26 Maharashtra Kerala Karnataka Gujarat Goa Andhra Pradesh 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Distribution of mangroves in India [Source: India State of Forest Report, 2019] Conservation and Management Survey of India (FSI) which is 0.15 % of the country's geographical area. Ministry Various factors like urbanisation, of Environment, Forests and Climate industrialisation, and aquaculture Change (MoEF&CC) implements (farming of aquatic organisms such as Centrally Sponsored Scheme called fish, prawns, molluscs) are posing Conservation and Management of severe threats to mangroves. Further Mangroves. Under the scheme, 100% due to climate change especially sea Central Government assistance is level rise in low lying coastal areas, the provided to the Coastal States/Union mangrove habitats are under risk. As per Territories for ‘Core’ and ‘Ancillary’ the Director, Zoological Survey of India, activities in the 80:20 ratio for the declining rate of mangrove forest in implementation of the their approved India is 1 % per year, that is if nothing is Management Action Plans. The done to remedy it then in 100 years they components of Management Action plan will completely vanish. consist of survey, assessment and demarcation, afforestation and In India, mangrove cover is 4975 restoration of mangroves, alternate and sq.km as per the latest report of Forest 63

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 supplementary livelihoods, pollution Genetic Resource Center has been established in Bhitarkanika in Odisha control, protection measures and where the maximum number of mangrove species of the country is education & awareness etc. The present in a single area. National Environment Policy, 2006 also Further MoEF&CC enacts the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, recognizes Mangroves and Coral Reefs as Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991 and National the important coastal environmental Biodiversity Act, 2002 for conservation of coastal and marine environment. resources. There are 38 mangrove sites Marine Ecosystems have been declared as ecologically sensitive areas under the identified by the Ministry(MoEF&CC) for Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. As per the CRZ notification, mangroves & intensive conservation and coral reefs fall under the category I which qualifies for strict protection, management. These sites are located in prohibiting development activities and disposal of wastes. West Bengal (Sundarbans); Odisha In addition, the Ministry (Bhitarkanika, Mahanadi, Subernarekha, (MoEF&CC) has also designated special Marine and Coastal Protected Areas to Devi, Dhamra, Mangrove Genetic protect marine ecosystems. Marine protected area is essentially a space in Resources Centre, Chilka); Andhra the ocean where human activities are more strictly regulated than the Pradesh (Coringa, East Godavari, surrounding waters - similar to parks we have on land (ENVIS, WII). Krishna); Tamil Nadu (Pichavaram, Muthupet, Ramna, Pulicat, Kazhuveli); Andaman & Nicobar(North Andamans, Nicobar); Kerala (Vembanad, Kannur); Karnataka (Coondapur, DakshinKannada/Honnavar, Karwar, Manglore Forest Division), Goa; Maharashtra (Achra-Ratnagiri, Devgarh- Vijay Durg, Veldur, Kundalika- Revdanda, Mumbra-Diva, Vikroli, Shreevardhan, Vaitarna, Vasai-Manori, Malvan); Gujara (Gulf of Kuchchh, Gulf of Khambhat, Dumas-Ubhrat) [PIB News]. To protect the genetic diversity of mangroves, National Mangrove 64

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Dr. Rajesh Kumar Mohanta Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Odisha About the Authors Ms. Kanchan Puri is presently working as Programme Coordinator in Environment Education Division of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. Prior to joining the Ministry, she had worked with WWF-India. Her research interest includes developing spatial databases for conservation of biodiversity & natural resource management through use of geospatial techniques. She has published two books and about forty research papers alongwith popular scientific articles in reputed international journals and magazines. Dr. Ritesh Joshi is Additional Director with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi. Dr. Joshi has conducted research on the behaviour and ecology of the Asian elephant for more than a decade in the Rajaji National Park (from 1999-2011) and adjoining protected habitats. After completing his B.Sc., M.Sc. & PhD. in Environmental Sciences, he worked with G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development and Doon Institute of Engineering and Technology as a Scientist/Assistant Professor. He was awarded the ‘DST-Young Scientist Fast Track Scheme’ by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India in 2004 and 2008. He has published four books on wildlife and nearly ninety research papers in various reputed national and international scientific journals. The Department of Official Languages, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has honoured him with the ‘Rajiv Gandhi National Award (Rajiv Gandhi Rashtriya Gyan-Vigyan Maulik Pustak Lekhan Puruskar) for one of his books titled ‘Wildlife of Uttarakhand and Conservation’. 65

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Beauty in Swamps Sushmita Karmakar Email: [email protected] Early morning scenario at the Vedaranyam swamps Wetlands are extremely I got a chance to visit this place in October 2018 and study those important nutrient rich areas, catering beauties of nature. Migratory birds to a lot of diversified life forms. One arrive here in flocks from the colder such place in India is Point Calimere, northern parts of the globe in search of also known as Kodiakkarai. This place warmer weather and abundant food. was declared as Ramsar Site No. 1210 on 19th August 2002. It is a low With a pair of binoculars and a headland situated on the Coromandel camera, I had made my way to the Coast in the Nagapattinam district of SANMAR Chemplast Reservoir area Tamil Nadu. It is about 9 km from the located at the GVS, in the wee hours of Great Vedaranyam Swamps (GVS). The the morning. The weather had been migratory birds arrive here from hot and sultry which rendered every October and stay till February. trip to the swamps quite tiresome. 66

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Yet, that place had held an tuned to their feeding habits. Most of ethereal beauty to it. A panoramic the flamingos were in sync with the view can be summarized as; the others. They seemed to walk and halt reddened sky with flocks of numerous almost together at the same time. As birds jostling and flying, the dark the sun rose higher in the sky, more green mangroves, broken shells birds of varied species were greeted by embedded in the ground with the my presence. I had spotted a large stinging salty air and long stretches of number of resident and migratory silent water on all the sides. The waterbirds. A whole flock of Little wetland was humongous with life Stint Calidris minuta (LC), Little Tern teeming everywhere. Sternula albifrons (LC), Lesser Sand- Plover Charadrius mongolus (LC), Pied Kingfisher-hovering Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia The first bird that I had chanced (LC), Common Greenshank Tringa upon was a Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis nebularia (LC), Common Redshank (LC). It continuously hovered above Tringa totanus (LC), Terek Sandpiper the wetland, diving at regular intervals Xenus cinereus (LC), Wood Sandpiper for food. Its accurateness at fishing by Tringa glareola (LC), Common hovering in mid-air was mesmerizing. Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (LC), Soon I was greeted with a flamboyance Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus of Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus philippensis (NT), Little Ringed Plover roseus (LC) wading in the water, back- Charadrius dubius (LC), Glossy Ibis dropped against the rising sun. Their Plegadis falcinellus (LC), Asian long stilt-like legs prodding the Openbill Anastomus oscitans (LC), swamps and the gushing water being Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (LC), Black- continuously filtered via the upturned tailed Godwit Limosa limosa (NT) and beak was interesting to watch. These Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala specialized beak of Flamingos are (NT) were spotted. It was an amazing ability of getting camouflaged with their surroundings which made almost each wader difficult to detect. Their varied feeding habits had shaped their beaks. 67

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 I also got to witness a Brown-headed Common Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon Gull Larus brunnicephalus (LC) chasing nilotica (LC). and stealing food mid-air from a A flock of Greater Flamingo Some of the bird species spotted at the Vedaranyam Swamps Wood Sandpiper Glossy Ibis Painted Stork 68

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Black-tailed Godwit Common Sandpiper Brahminy Kite Little Ringed Plover (Left) Grey Heron, (Right) Asian Openbill Eurasian Curlew flying over the swamps 69

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 A large congregation of Eurasian occupants of the flock were all Curlew Numenius arquata (NT) also hovering at almost the same height. flew over the swamps, before settling After few seconds, one by one, each down a little further away. Witnessing bird had dropped themselves down on a pair of Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa water for catching their prey, and soon lapponica (NT) was nothing short of they regained back their hovering. This miracle for me. This migratory bird in whole action was repeated several particular covers an amazing non-stop times in a perfect synchronization and journey of almost 11,000 kms from harmony. Those little birds, hunting New-Zealand to Yellow Sea in China. with rhythmic preciseness was a treat Till date it is the longest known, non- for my eyes. I was perplexed that how stop flight of any bird. A pair of there never seemed to be any fight Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus (LC) was between two birds going for the same also seen giving rounds, high up in the prey. Each bird had locked for its prey air. while hovering in air, and then with a sudden dive would go for its target. While in the process of With the approaching noon, I had identifying the birds and their species, encountered many more bird species, I had also noted that most of the birds who either went scampering for food spotted were either in their non- or just with occasional aerial feats. breeding plumage or in the process of Everyone just went on with their daily moulting. They all were seen business. The setting sun had soon engrossed in searching for their food, marked the end of another day, which with occasional take-offs or landings. made many flocks of birds flying back to their roosting sites. The nights were As the morning further dawned brightened with the stars of Milky Way, on, an interesting scene was unveiled staring down on me from the clear sky. by a large cotillion of Little Tern. The Waterbirds such as herons, egrets, swans, ducks and geese and waders use wetlands during the majority of their lifetime. At least 12% of all Globally Threatened Birds, (146 species) depend on wetlands. The most important types of wetlands for these birds are lakes and pools, rivers and streams, bogs, marshes and swamps, and coastal lagoons. Wetlands make up a high percentage of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) mainly due to their importance for large congregations of waterbirds. [Source:www.birdlife.org] 70

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Blue-tailed Bee-eater Paddyfield Pipit Next day, I had visited the BNHS griseus (LC), Rufous Treepie Bird Migration Center, which was Dendrocitta vagabunda (LC), Common located quite near to the GVS. This Iora Aegithina tiphia (LC), Brown Center is heavily endowed with trees Shrike Lanius cristatus (LC), Rosy and varied bird species. Just a walk in Starling Pastor roseus (LC), Yellow- and around the Center had lengthened billed Babbler Turdoides affinis (LC), the list of spotting my first timers. I Brahminy Starling Sturnia pagodarum had spotted the Asian Brown (LC), Dusky Crag Martin Ptyonoprogne Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica (LC), concolor (LC), Shikra Accipiter badius female of Indian Paradise-flycatcher (LC), Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Terpsiphone paradisi (LC), Brown- (LC), Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui philippinus (LC) and many more (LC), Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus species of birds. I also had the indicus (LC), Red-winged Lark Mirafra privilege to identify the birds from hypermetra (LC), Ashy Prinia Prinia their calls with the aid of Dr. socialis (LC), Coppersmith Barbet Sivananinthaperumal Balachandran, Psilopogon haemacephalus (LC), Deputy Director, BNHS. The evenings Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma in the Center were filled with the zeylonica (LC), White-browed Bulbul murmurs of Asian Palm-swift Cypsiurus Pycnonotus luteolus (LC), Red-vented balasiensis (LC), chattering of Forest Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer (LC), Ashy- Wagtails, chirpings of Bee-eaters and crowned Sparrow-lark Eremopterix occasional calls of the Indian Pitta 71

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Pitta brachyura (LC). As the day migrants, who come here to rest and ended, there were occasional hoots of replenish, which energizes them to owl. The chirpings of insects and carry the remaining part of their presence of adequate foliage indicated journey. The amalgamation of perfect that this place would hardly ever run weather, sufficient food and this place out of its prey supply for the birds. rarely serving host to anthropogenic activities, provides an undisturbed On a concluding note, this stay to many shore birds too. The wetland is a crucial spot for varied beauty and richness of this place can migratory bird species. The never be comprehended by a single geographical position of this site has a visit. The exquisite beauty of nature great significance in the Central Asian along with her inhabitants still survive Flyway (CAF). This area serves as a in the swamps of Vedaranyam. stopover point for many long distance A typical scenario of the swamps with congregation of various migratory bird species 72

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Bibliography (including Web-links) Acknowledgements: Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp The author is thankful to Debjyoti (2013). Birds of the Indian Karmakar for providing some of the Subcontinent. Bloomsbury Publishing. pictures supporting the article. http://www.birdlife.org/ www.forests.tn.gov.in About the Author Sushmita Karmakar has done M.Sc. in Biotechnology and MBA in Marketing. She has an innate passion for conservation of nature and knowing its mysteries from a macro level point of view. She has trekked to some of the remote areas of India to study the conflict and connection between humans and the nature surrounding them. She has also written many poems, articles and made paintings depicting the bewitching Mother Nature. Currently she is working as an Information Officer under ENVIS (Environmental Information system) at BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society), Mumbai. 73

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Importance of a Small Village Pond for Migratory Waterbirds- A Case Study of Keorak Village, Kaithal District, Haryana Gurpreet Singh, 1Joystu Dutta and Tarun Kumar Thakur Email of corresponding author1: [email protected] Pied Avocet and Common Coot Introduction permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish Wetland conservation got momentum or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not all over the world after Ramsar exceed six meters”. Initially, the Convention came into being in 1971. It Convention had primary emphasis on defines wetlands (under Article 1.1) as conservation of wetland as waterfowl “areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, 74

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 habitat (Ramsar Convention Secretariat, threatened (NT), 4 species Vulnerable 2011) which indicates importance of (VU) and 2 species were Endangered wetlands’ ecosystem service of habitat (EN) (Rai et.al., 2017). Kurukshetra provisioning to waterfowl. In India, wetlands were assessed for avifaunal wetlands cover around 4.63% of the diversity and total of 54 species total geographical area and support belonging to 36 genera and 15 families nearly fifth of the biodiversity known in were recorded (Kumar and Gupta, the country (SAC, 2011). Wetlands are 2009). Fatehabad district wetlands were one of the most productive transitional documented with 73 species belonging ecosystems on earth surface. 68.8% of to 55 genera and 32 orders out of which Indian population (83.3 crores) belongs around 22% species were winter to rural areas (Census of India, 2011). migrants (Chopra and Jhakhar, 2016). Freshwater ecosystems such as village ponds and jheels form an important Study Area component of their daily living due to the bouquet of ecosystem services on Keorak Village Pond, Haryana offer. These village wetlands contribute to rural biodiversity conservation too. A study was conducted at Keorak Many of them are used as breeding, village pond located in Kaithal Tehsil of foraging, resting habitats for many birds Kaithal District, Haryana. It is located including migratory ones using Central approximately 10.5 km from main city Asian Flyway. Studies have suggested Kaithal. Study area is village pond of that around 23% of the bird species kaithal with co-ordinate of N 29O 52’ recorded from India were dependent on 25.332” and E 76 O 28’ 22.692”. Area of water bodies (Kumar and Gupta, 2009). the pond is approx. 35 acres. Pond is Many studies in Haryana suggest the importance of wetlands for avifaunal 75 diversity. A study conducted at Basai wetland documented 128 species of birds belonging to 15 order and 37 families out of them 7 species were Near

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 usually used by the local villagers for Results and Discussion different activities like drinking and washing of cattle, cloth washing etc. A checklist of bird along with This pond is under consideration for residential status and IUCN conservation water treatment and water used for status is given in Table 1. irrigation purpose of local farmers. Table1: Conservation Status of Waterbirds Material and Methods SN Bird IUCN Status Data was collected during early Species morning hours of the winter, 2019 with Resident point count method. Birds were 1 Black- LC Winter observed with the help of a pair of 10x50 winged Stilt Migrant* binoculars. Identification of birds was done with the help of authentic 2 Pied Avocet LC literature (Ali and Ripley, 1983; Manakandan and Pittie, 2001; Grimmett 3 Grey Heron LC Resident & Inskipp, 2003). Only waterbirds observed in the wetland and its 4 Common LC Winter proximity were documented, whereas Sandpiper LC Migrant terrestrial birds not dependent on the aquatic area of the wetlands for 5 Eurasian Winter foraging, resting, roosting and/or Coot Migrant* nesting were not documented. Conservation status of different species 6 Little Grebe LC Resident was understood and documented with the help of IUCN Red List of Threatened 7 Citrine LC Winter Species (Version 2020-1). The Wagtail Migrant residential status of avian species was categorized into resident, passage and 8 Common LC Winter winter visitors mainly using recognized Redshank Migrant ornithological literature for the Indian Subcontinent. 9 Northern LC Winter Shoveler Migrant 10 Common VU Winter Pochard Migrant 11 Wood LC Winter Sandpiper Migrant 12 Great LC Passage* Cormorant 13 Ruff LC Winter Migrant 14 Red-naped LC Resident Ibis Red- 15 wattled LC Resident Lapwing *Though Resident-Migrant for the Indian Subcontinent, the species migrates to this wetland only in winter. Despite its small area, Keorak village pond had supported a good proportion of winter migratory bird species. During winter survey, 60% of 76

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 the waterbird species recorded were and biodiversity assessments from a winter migrants. They belonged to micro level. This would further help us about half a dozen families. to update the National Biodiversity Scolopacidae was the predominant Policy as and when required giving family considering the number of emphasis to Total Economic Value (TEV) species of each family. of biodiversity. As per IUCN conservation status is Bibliography concerned, Common Pochard, a winter Ali S. and S. D. Ripley (1988). Compact migrant diving duck, was a Vulnerable handbook of the birds of India and (VU) species. Even the resident species Pakistan: Together with those of like Black-winged Stilt, Grey Heron, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Little Grebe and Red-wattled Lapwing Lanka. Oxford University Press, New and the “passage” species, viz. Great Delhi, 890 p. Cormorant are known to have declining population from 2012 to 2018 as per the Chopra, G. and P. Jhakhar (2016). Avian “State of India’s Birds-2020” (SoIB, Diversity of Wetland Habitats of District 2020). Fatehabad, Haryana (India), Int. J. Pharm. Life Sci. 7(9), 5185-5199. Conclusion This note indicates that though Grimmett, R. and T. Inskipp. (2003). overall species richness of waterbirds at Birds of Northern India. Oxford this rural pond was low, the proportion University Press, New Delhi. of wintering migratory birds was quite high indicating importance of even such Kumar, P. and S.K. Gupta (2009). small unprotected rural wetland for Diversity and Abundance of Wetland migratory waterbirds. Birds around Kurukshetra, India. Our This is an important ecosystem Nature, 7:212-217 based services of the wetlands irrespective of their size and location. Manakadan R. and A. Pittie (2001). Therefore, such studies hold value Standardized common and scientific during the development of village level Peoples’ Biodiversity Registrar (PBR) 77

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 names of the birds of the Indian SAC (2011). National Wetland Atlas, Subcontinent. Buceros 6(1), ix+37. SAC/EPSA/ABHG/NWIA/ATLAS/34/2011, Space Applications Center (ISRO), Ministry of Home affairs (MoHA) (2011). Ahmedabad, India, 310p. Census of India, New Delhi SoIB 2020. State of India’s Birds, 2020: Rai, D., G. Chopra, R. Gulia, P. Vats Range, trends and conservation status. (2017). Avian diversity of basai The SoIB Partnership. Pp 50. wetlands, Haryana: An IBA site, J. Exp. Zool. India, 20(1), 109-117. Weblink: https://www.ramsar.org About the Authors Gurpreet Singh Joystu Dutta Tarun Kumar Thakur Gurpreet Singh did Masters in Environment Management with Specialization in Natural Resource Management from Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. Worked with many renowned industries as also with Centre for Environment Education(CEE), Forest Research Institute(FRI), Integral University and Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University etc. Joystu Dutta is currently posted as an Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Environmental Science, Sant Gahira Guru University, Sarguja, Chhattisgarh. He is a member of IUCN Commission of Ecosystem Management. He is a DST Inspire Fellow and also holds UNESCO scholarships beside UGC NET in Environmental Sciences. Tarun Thakur, Ph.D. is currently serving as Associate Professor and Head, Department of Environmental Science, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh. He has more than fifteen years of teaching and research experience. 78

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 Retain, Restore and Conserve Urban wetlands Salma Sultana Barbhuiya Email: [email protected] A wetland is an area of land difference in cities. Due to the that is saturated with water abundant water and aquatic plants, permanently or seasonally. Unique plants called hydrophytes, adapted to wetlands produce moist air which distinct hydric soil, characterise wetland ecosystems. naturally improves urban air quality. Interacting with nature improves our physical and emotional health and the Wetlands occur in every urban wetlands are natural green climatic zone, from the Polar Regions to the tropics, and from dry regions to spaces where city residents can relax high altitudes. Wetlands are widely recognized as fragile ecosystems with and enjoy access to diversity of plant diverse attributes. and animal life. Wetlands are also source of employment; it attracts tourists, to swim, snorkel or bird watch etc. Additionally, wetlands provide They provide ecosystem easily accessible educational services of paramount importance such opportunities to learn about the as groundwater recharge, water environment. purification, flood control, biodiversity conservation, nutrient retention, pollutants degradation, climate regulation, recreation and aesthetics and also play a significant role in global carbon cycle. Urban wetlands can act as Son beel, Assam ‘cold-islands’, mitigating ‘urban heat Despite the growing islands’ effect that is one of the understanding of their importance, prominent characteristics of urban wetlands are still under threat mostly climate. The presence/absence of in urban areas. wetland can determine a temperature 79

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 We are witnessing an age of andindustrial wastes. The urban wetlands are vulnerable to loss of extensive urbanization. More than half resilience and sustainability. of the world’s population now lives in Wetland Infested by Water hyacinth cities, and human settlements Pollution in Wetland Some water bodies have been continue to expand rapidly. The restored and managed effectively by collaborations between citizens and urbanization process involves changes local government in India. The involvement of local communities in in the landscape, soil modifications, decisions making on urban planning and wetland management should be climate changes, and biodiversity loss, encouraged. The Education programs can also resulting in a new, distinct ecosystem. help the community understanding the Urban ecosystems are dominated by buildings, roads and lacking in vegetation cover. These transformations results in ecological degradation as well as pressure on ecosystem services. Of all the ecosystem services, fresh water is especially critical and crucial for human survival in cities across the globe. In particular, urbanization is major cause of the loss of wetlands and the public’s perceptions of lakes have also changed with urbanization. The numerous water bodies in the cities of India have disappeared or been degraded in recent years. The urban wetlands face various disturbances due to pressures of development, pollution, infestation by aquatic weeds, water diversion, human settlements, and encroachments. Most of these wetlands get dried in summer and serves as a dumping yard for garbage 80

Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881), Vol. 10, No. 2, June-July 2020 importance of wetland and boost sustainable use practices. Both development and ecological conservation should go hand in hand and that is possible only if sustainability of nature is given equal importance as that to economic growth. The urban development should avoid destroying or degrading wetlands, through drainage, infill, water diversion, Agara lake, Karnataka pollution or the introduction ofinvasive About the Author species. Ms. Salma Sultana Barbhuiya is a Master’s Student, Cotton University, The wetlands should be restored and/or created within urban areas and Guwahati. the restoration ofexisting wetlands should be preferred ahead of creating new wetlands. Environmentalists, Researcher, Policy makers, NGOs and others concerned about the health of the wetlands and contributing in conserving wetlands. Readers can also do their part by keeping an eye on local wetlands and speaking up if something looks in accurate. Potential problems are much easier to resolve early on than after-damage is done, so speaking up soon can often lead to more successful and less contentious outcomes. 81

The next issue of Jalaplavit (ISSN 2321-1881) will be the October-November 2020 issue. It will mark the Wildlife Week-2020. The Wildlife Week is celebrated in India each year. Please send your research papers, articles, observation notes, photo-essays and pictures pertaining to wetlands and their wildlife. The term “wildlife” will be considered in a broad sense covering wetland-dependent vertebrate and invertebrate fauna as also macro-flora and their habitats. Please send your contribution TILL 30th September if you wish to get your contribution published in the October-November issue.