Wildlife Research and Conservation Society
Celebrating Avian Diversity: Ujani Bird Count December 2024
The Ujani Waterbird Count, a collaborative effort with the Solapur Forest Division, was conducted as a Citizen Science Program on 22nd December 2024, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM across 11 distinct locations. This comprehensive survey aimed to document the rich avian diversity of the Ujani Reservoir, with a particular focus on waterbirds. The objectives included assessing their conservation status, understanding migratory patterns, and formulating a management action plan for the reservoir.
The survey encompassed key waterbird habitats across 11 prominent locations: Bhigwan/Takrarwadi, Diksal, Kondhar Chincholi, Kumbhargaon, Dalaj, Vitthalwadi, Khatgaon, Kettur, Kalthan, Shaha, and Wangi. Each site plays a vital ecological role in sustaining waterbird populations. The accompanying map provides a detailed overview of the survey sites, highlighting their geographic distribution and significance.
A total of 135 bird species were documented during the Ujani waterbird Count Dec- 24. Among them, 25% were migratory, 70% were resident, 4% were local migrants.
The graph below, illustrates the highest species diversity documented at top five locations during the birdcount. Among the surveyed sites, Bhigwan is the most diverse location, with a total count of 105 bird species. Followed by Dalaj, Vitthalwadi, Khatgaon and Kettur.
The survey highlighted the presence of several species listed on the IUCN Red List. The Ujani reservoir and its associated habitats serve as critical stopover sites for migratory birds and breeding grounds for resident waterbird species. These findings emphasize the importance of protecting these vulnerable populations and their habitats.
The graph below highlights the Top 5 waterbird species with the highest number of individuals recorded during the birdcount. The Eurasian Coot had the highest count, , followed by the Whiskered Tern, Northern Shoveler, Brown-headed Gull and River Tern
Below is the detailed checklist of bird species recorded during the December Bird Count 2024. This comprehensive list represents the incredible diversity of avian life observed during the survey and highlights the rich biodiversity of the region.
Species Name |
|---|
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) |
Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) |
Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica) |
Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) |
Red-naped Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) |
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) |
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) |
River Tern (Sterna aurantia) |
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) |
Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus) |
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) |
Ruff (Calidris pugnax) |
Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura) |
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) |
Shikra (Tachyspiza badia) |
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) |
Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea) |
Spot-breasted Fantail (Rhipidura albogularis) |
Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) |
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) |
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) |
Streak-throated Swallow (Petrochelidon fluvicola) |
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) |
Tricolored Munia (Lonchura malacca) |
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) |
Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) |
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) |
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) |
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) |
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) |
Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) |
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) |
Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense) |
Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) |
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) |
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) |
Gray Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus) |
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) |
Gray-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) |
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) |
Great Egret (Ardea alba) |
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) |
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) |
Greater Painted-Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) |
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) |
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) |
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) |
House Crow (Corvus splendens) |
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) |
Indian Bushlark (Plocealauda erythroptera) |
Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) |
Indian Golden Oriole (Oriolus kundoo) |
Indian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) |
Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii) |
Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus) |
Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) |
Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) |
Indian Thick-knee (Burhinus indicus) |
Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) |
Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus) |
Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) |
Large Gray Babbler (Argya malcolmi) |
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) |
Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) |
Lesser Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) |
Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca) |
Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) |
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) |
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) |
Little Ringed Plover (Thinornis dubius) |
Little Stint (Calidris minuta) |
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) |
Medium Egret (Ardea intermedia) |
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) |
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) |
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) |
Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) |
Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) |
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) |
Pallas's Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) |
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) |
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) |
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) |
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) |
Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata) |
Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis) |
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus) |
Asian Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) |
Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) |
Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) |
Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) |
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) |
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) |
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) |
Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) |
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) |
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) |
Black Kite (Milvus migrans) |
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) |
Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) |
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) |
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) |
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) |
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) |
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) |
Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata) |
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) |
Brahminy Starling (Sturnia pagodarum) |
Brown Crake (Zapornia akool) |
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) |
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) |
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) |
Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnia malabarica) |
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) |
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) |
Common Babbler (Argya caudata) |
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) |
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) |
Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) |
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) |
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) |
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) |
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) |
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) |
Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) |
Dusky Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor) |
Eastern Cattle-Egret (Ardea coromanda) |
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) |
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) |
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) |
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) |
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) |
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) |
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) |
Garganey (Spatula querquedula) |
The Ujani Waterbird Count owes its success to the enthusiastic and selfless contributions of all the participants.
Illustration Credit: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home