Indexing

Avian Fauna of Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh, India

Author: M.L. Thakur, Anuradha and H.S. Banyal

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Abstract

Avifaunal studies in Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary showed a total of 225 species of birds spread over 150 genera, 54 families and 17 orders. Of these, 131 were observed to be seasonal local migrants, 31 species were assessed to be purely residents, 84 as seasonal-local migrants, 1 showed summer influx, 15 species showed winters influx. In addition, another 94 species, in Pong area, were reported to be long range migrants, including 17 summer visitors and 77 winter visitors. Moreover, categorization of the avifaunal diversity in to various abundance categories revealed that there were 118 very common species, 63 common species, 29 uncommon species and 15 rare species. The study revealed that Pong Dam, a medium sized wetland, falling on the Central Asian Flyway, is one of the important wintering and staging grounds for a number of migratory waterbirds. Therefore, stakeholder interventions are urgently needed to ensure conservation of an enormous range of biological diversity, particularly the avifauna.

Keywords

Avian fauna, Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, relative abundance, residential status.

Conclusion

The study revealed that Pong Dam, a medium sized wetland, falling on the Central Asian Flyway, is one of the important wintering and staging grounds for a number of migratory waterbirds. The present study recorded 225 species of birds spread over 54 families, including 77 winter visitors, many of them moving along Central Asian Flyway. The study further showed that the wetland not only harbors important winter migrants, but also supports 17 summer visitors. There is an urgent conservation attention in view of the presence of 118 very common species and 15 rare species of birds. The Wetland faces several threats including encroachments for illegal wheat farming. Therefore, interventions on part of various stakeholders are needed to ensure conservation of an enormous range of biological diversity, particularly the avifauna.

References

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How to cite this article

M.L. Thakur, Anuradha and H.S. Banyal (2023). Avian Fauna of Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh, India. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5): 1758-1766.