Wetland Bird Diversity of Rupa Lake

Abstract

The survey was conducted during April 2005 to January 2006 in Rupa Lake which is situated in 28º8' N latitude and 84º6' E longitude covering 115 ha area, to determine the diversity seasonal variation, status and conservation of wetland birds, using five vantage points and two birding routes with direct observation. A total of 30 wetland birds' speciesincluding 4 associated bird species belonging to 16 families and 5 ordershas been found. Just only one i.e. ferruginous pochard, which is valuablein status, is recorded during the study period. The highest number of bird species was recorded in winter (325 individuals of 25 species) and lowestin spring (96 individual of 14 species). Analysis of variance (ANOVA)showed the significant variation in bird diversity with seasonal variation.The diversity of the bird was measured by the Shannon's Weiner function where it was highest in winter (H =1.09) and lowest in spring (H = 0.95)and Jacob's Coefficient was highest in Autumn (J= 0.858) and lowest in winter (J = 0.78). Among 30 species, 15 species were residential, 1 species summer visitor, 12 species winter visitor and 1 species vagrant. The major conservation threat to the bird diversity of bird in Rupa Lake are habitat distortion, over fishing and hunting, poisoning and aquatic plant harvesting for food trade and medicine, human encroachment and also livestock. Thus, this study recommends controlling human as well as livestock pressure for scientific management of the Rupa Lake wetland.