Analysis of wetland Birds as seen in Yamuna river at Okhla (Delhi), Faridabad and Palwal Districts in Haryana, India

Abstract

The present studies were done during 2008-11 for the observations of wetland birds in River Yamuna at Okhla (Delhi), Faridabad and Palwal districts in Haryana.  Visits were made in an irregular manner. In all 2 visits were made at Faridabad; village Chandhat nearby Palwal and at Hodal nearby village Kulena. It is pertinent to mention that few visits were made in winter season at Okhla barrage in New Delhi. In all, 60 species were recorded belonging to 8 orders and 14 families. Out of these 60 species of wetland birds, 35 were winter migratory, 11 local migratory and 11 species of birds were resident. The specific wetland birds specific to Yamuna River between “Delhi-Faridabad-Palwal” segments include Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus, Greater Scaup Aythya marila, River Tern Sterna aurantia and Pallas Gull Larus ichthyaetus. Other popular wetland birds include, amongst others, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata, Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina, Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Tufted Pochard Aythya fuligula, Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus, Greylag Goose Anser anser, Brahminy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Gadwall Anas strepera, Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope, White-tailed Lapwing Vanellus leucurus, Ruff Philomachus pugnax, Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia, Pallas Gull Larus ichthyaetus, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Open-billed Stork Anastomus oscitans, White-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus, Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, Black tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola,  Little Stint Calidris minuta, Common Redshank Tringa totanus, Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus and  Pied Avocet Recurivirostra avosetta.Black-headed Gulls were seen in thousands followed by Greylag Goose Anser anser, Northern Shoveller, Northern Pintail etc. Minimum number noticed were those of Greater Scaup, Ferruginous Pochards etc. Resident wetland birds include Little Cormorants Phalacrocorax niger, Median Cormorants Phalacrocorax fuscicollis, Large Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo , Pond Herons Ardeola grayii, Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax, Black winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus, Common Moorhens Gallinula chloropus, Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus, Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus, Grey Herons Ardea cinerea, large Egrets Ardea alba and Median Egrets Mesophoyx intermedia. However, Grey Herons were seen only in 2-3 numbers. It seems that most of the popular migratory birds, perhaps, prefer Jheels, Lakes, Barrages compared to Yamuna river stream. Birds in Yamuna are not continuous in their availability. Rather birds are encountered at specific spots only in a given segment. Painted Storks were seen in 1or 2 and that too in the vicinity of Yamuna region rather than its stream of water. However, birds were seen in innumerous numbers at Okhla Barrage in Yamuna River nearby Delhi.