During the study period commencing from October 2000 to October 2017, 2010-17 were years of intensive study intermittently the sites were visited several times. Avifauna was observed adapting to different modes, as discussed above. Two hundred sixty species were recorded, comprising 19 orders and 72 families. Out of 260 avian species, ten species come under the threatened categories of IUCN Red Data Base (2015–2021), (Rahmani 2012; Rahmani et al. 2018). A previous study by Majumdar (1984) mentions collecting specimens of 97 species from Bastar, and (Saha 1995) recorded 92 species in ITR.
Since the study area covered two districts and the ITR observation data for three segments has been segregated and summarized to facilitate the outcome in each area, as tabulated in Table − 2
Table 1
Summarized details of species in Three study areas
Name of area/ district | Nos of Orders | Nos of families | Nos of Species | Dominant families |
---|
Dantewada | 19 | 67 | 183 | Muscicapidae – 11 (6.01%), Ardeidae – 10 (5.46%), Columbidae – 8 (4.37%), Accipitridae – 6 (3.28%), Motacillidae – 6 (2.38%) |
Bijapur | 19 | 72 | 245 | Accipitridae – 14 (5.71%), Muscicapidae – 14 (5.71%), Ardeidae – 12 (4.90%), Picidae – 10 (4.08%), Motacillidae – 10 (4.08%) |
Indravati Tiger Reserve | 19 | 72 | 238 | Accipitridae – 13 (5.49%), Muscicapidae – 13 (5.49%), Ardeidae-12 (5.06%), Cuculidae – 10 (4.22%), Picidae – 10 (4.22%), Motacillidae-10 (4.22%) |
Clubbed above Three areas | 19 | 72 | 260 | Accipitridae – 15 species (5.83%),Ardeidae 12 species (4.66%)Cuculidae 11 species (4.28%) Picidae – 10 species (3.89%) Muscicapidae – 10 species (3.89%) |
Our study revealed 183 species in the Dantewada district comprising Resident species 157, Migratory 26, In Bijapur district 245 species, R 186, M 59, and ITR 238 R 179 and M 59. Saha (1995) recorded 92 species from ITR and Majumdar (1984) 97 species from Bastar; the comparative results are given in Table 3.
Table 2
Comparison of species found in ITR
Previous studies | No of Order | No of Families | No of species | Remarks |
---|
Majumdar (1984) | 19 | 38 | 97 | No mention of ITR |
Saha (1995) | 19 | 36 | 92 | |
Our study (2017–2020) | 19 | 72 | 237 | 165 Species not mentioned by Saha recorded by us. |
In ITR, Saha (1995) recorded 92 species belonging to 19 orders and 36 families, and our study revealed the presence of 238 species belonging to 19 orders and 72 families. In both these studies, 77 species were common. Saha found 15 species; significant amongst them were Eurasian Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Purple Wood Pigeon (Columba punicea), now known as Pale-capped Pigeon, Jerdon'sBaza (Aviceda jerdoni) and Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) which we did not encounter., we found 165 species not found recorded in the study by Saha (1995). Majumdar (1984) has collected specimens from Bastar, mostly from present KVNP, Bastar district, and does not mention Bijapur district, where ITR is situated and Dantewada district.
We have analyzed the 260 species found in the above three sites clubbed together :
To determine the status for each family, the number of species as recorded in each family, with percentage (in brackets) were selected, concerning total species recorded was worked out as below;
Anatidae – 8(3.11), Phasianidae – 7 (2.72), Podicipedidae – 1 (0.389), Columbidae – 8 (3.11), Caprimulgidae – 2 (0.77), Hemiprocnidae 1 (0.389%), Apodidae 3 (1.16%), Cuculidae 11 (4.28%), Rallidae 6 (2.33%), Ciconiidae 4 (1.55%), Ardeidae 12 (4.66%), Threskiornithidae 2 (0.77%), Phalacrocoracidae 3 (1.16%), Anhingidae 1 (0.389%), Burhinidae 1 (0.389%), Recurvirostridae 1 (0.389%), Charadriidae 4 (1.55%), Rostratulidae 1 (0.389%), Jacanidae 2 (0.77%), Scolopacidae 8 (3.11%), Turnicidae 2 (0.77%), Glareolidae 2 (0.77%), Laridae 2 (0.77%), Pandionidae 1 (0.389%), Accipitridae 15 (5.83%), Tytonidae 1 (0.389%), Strigidae 4 (1.55%), Trogonidae 1 (0.389%), Bucerotidae 2 (0.77%), Upupidae 1 (0.389%), Picidae 10 (3.89%), Megalaimidae 2 (0.77%), Meropidae 3 (1.16%), Coraciidae 1 (0.389%), Alcedinidae 3 (1.16%), Falconidae 1 (0.389%), Psittaculidae 3 (1.16%), Pittidae 1 (0.389%), Campephagidae 5 (1.94%), Oriolidae 2 (0.77%), Artamidae 1 (0.389%), Vangidae 2 (0.77%), Aegithinidae1 (0.389%), Dicruridae5 (1.94%), Rhipiduridae1 (0.389%), Laniidae3 (1.16%), Corvidae3 (1.16%), Monarchidae2 (0.77%), Dicaeidae 2 (0.77%), Nectariniidae 2 (0.77%), Chloropseidae2 (0.77%), Ploceidae 1 (0.389%), Estrildidae5 (1.94%), Passeridae 2 (0.77%), Motacillidae10 (3.89%), Stenostiridae 1 (0.389%), Paridae 1 (0.389%), Alaudidae 5 (1.94%), Cisticolidae 6 (2.33%), Acrocephalidae 5 (1.94%), Hirundinidae 5 (1.94%), Pycnonotidae 4 (1.55%), Phylloscopidae 6 (2.33%), Sylviidae1 (0.389%), Zosteropidae 1 (0.389%), Timaliidae 3 (1.16%), Pellorneidae 1 (0.389%), Leiothrichidae 4 (1.55%), Sittidae 3 (1.16%), Sturnidae 7 (2.72%), Muscicapidae 14 (5.44%), Turdidae 1 (0.389%).
FEEDING HABIT
Based on their feeding habits, avians have been classified based on a study by Ali and Ripley (1987) and found as: Carnivorous – 54 (21%), Frugivorous – 7 (2.72%), Granivorous – 12 (4.66%), Insectivorous – 96 (37.35%), Nectarivores – 6 (2.33%), Omnivorous − 85 (31.9%). The feeding habits of the avian species correlate and are commensurate with the type of existing habitat in the study area. Number of birds were found as Omnivorous and least Nectarivores
THREATENED SPECIES
The threatened species as per Birdlife International, IUCN Redlist (Rahmani2012; Rahmani et al. 2018) found in understudy districts of Bastar division are tabulated below:
Table 3
List of Threatened bird Species
Category | Names of species locations |
Extinct | 1. Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyliacea) 2. Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus) |
Critically Endangered (CR) | 1. White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), 2. Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) |
Vulnerable (VU) | 1. Asian Woolly-neck Stork (Ciconiaepiscopus) |
Near threatened (NT) | 1. Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala), 2. Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) 3.Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) 4. River Tern (Sterna aurantia) 1. Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) 2.Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria) 3 Malabar Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus) |
The status of Some of the significant species is discussed here
The Pink-headed Duck and Lesser Florican under the category “Extinct” were last reported from Bastar by De Brett (1906), location unspecified, since then no authentic sighting has been recorded from Bastar division as cited by Rahmani et al. 2018)
White-rumped Vulture and Indian Vulture, both species, have been recorded in the past from KVNP (Bharos et al. 2021). In this study, 20 individuals of each bird species were recorded from the Bijapur district on June 13th 2017, at location Geauga (Rahmani et al. 2018). On 11 Jan 2020, at village Madded, Bijapur district and little ahead Indian Vulture − 12 Nos, White-rumped Vulture-1No w Information on roosting and nesting at 4 locations in cliffs and forest 5 km ahead of Madded are available. Himalayan Vulture was recently seen at Geedam of Dantewada district in March 2020 and is the first record from Chhattisgarh (Bharos et al. 2021a). Malabar Pied Hornbill. has been sighted at Kuturu area Bijapur district in 2021; the last report was from 1991 by Saha (1995).
Range extension species
The study revealed the presence of one range extension species, namely the Black-winged Cuckoo Shrike (Coracina melaschistos).
Nesting of important species
During the study, we found Black Baza (Avicedoleuphotes) nesting in KVNP/MFR, the first record from central India, including Chhattisgarh, Bharos et al. (2018). In May 2020, locals recently collected a juvenile from the Bijapur district and handed it over to the local forest department. suggests that this species breed in this pocket also.
Significant species
Green Munia ( Amandava Formosa )- Though we did not find this species during our study but being a threatened species (VU), it is pertinent to mention here, based on the records, as specimens were collected from Bailladilla hills by Bombay Natural History Society (Rahmani et al. 2018).
Black Stork ( Ciconia nigra) is an uncommon species from Bastar and was recorded at Jamawada on Feb 28th 2018 and around Kutru (Bijapur district) in 2017.
Oriental Scops Owl (Otus sunia), was recorded at several locations and photographed for the first time in the state (Bharos et al. 2020).
Common Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa peninsularis) This subspecies is found in south Bastar, known as Bastaria myna and is also the state bird of Chhattisgarh. It is periodically found in ITR in northern fringes where Shorea robusta exists.
Indian Grey Hornbill ( Ocyceros birostris ) This species has become very rare due to its poaching. Sighting mentioned is an old record by the first author.
Hotspots
Study was carried out in different habitats, e.g. forest, grassland, wetlands, cultivation etc. The hotspots found during the study were viz; (Table-1, Map-1)
Table 4
Different Hot spots with the site name and GPS coordinates.
S.no. | Habitat | Site Name | Longitude | Latitude |
1 | Forest | Chintadevi (Kutru) | 19.0632 | 80.831081 |
2 | | Matti Marka( River Indravati) | 18.9887 | 80.282279 |
3 | | Bhadrakali (River Indravati) | 18.8209 | 80.35981 |
4 | | Rudraram (near Bhopalpatnam) | 18.855883 | 80.397475 |
5 | | Cherpalli | 18.8338 | 80.43280 |
6 | | Metlacheru | 18.751026 | 80.323346 |
7 | | Nambi | 18.409500 | 80.780180 |
8 | Grasslands | Bandeparee | 18.87340 | 80.530506 |
9 | | Pegdapalli (near Bijapur) | 18.808090 | 80.491198 |
10 | Wetlands | Kutru Pond | 19.096117 | 80.787199 |
11 | | Pamalwaya Reservoir Bijapur | 18.778639 | 80.912004 |
12 | | Named Reservoir Bijapur | 18.887590 | 80.823002 |
13 | | Madded Reservoir Bijapur | 18.777488 | 80.548773 |
14 | | Usur Reservoir Bijapur | 18.475973 | 80.868254 |
15 | | Kumharash Reservoir Dantewada | 18.896400 | 81.319370 |
16 | | Barsoor Reservoir Dantewada | 19.140431 | 81.3833547 |
17 | | Katiyarrash Reservoir Dantewada | 18.9049555 | 81.3737845 |
18 | Plains & Cultivation | Timed | 18.8355680 | 80.3620735 |
19 | | Lingapuram (Near Bhopalpatnam) | 18.8856 | 80.34929 |