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Ujani Bird Count November 2024: A Citizen Science Program

The Ujani Waterbird Count was organized in collaboration with Solapur Forest Division. This was a Citizen Science Program conducted on 24th November 2024 from 7:00 AM to 11:00 Am at 14 different locations. We are excited to share the outcomes of the recent Ujani Waterbird Count, conducted across 14 locations surrounding the Ujani reservoir. This extensive survey aimed to document the Ujani's rich bird diversity, particularly focusing on waterbirds, assess their conservation status, migratory pattern and develop management action plan for Ujani reservoir.

The survey covered prominent waterbird habitats across 14 distinct locations, including Bhigwan/Takrarwadi, Diksal, Kondhar Chincholi, Kumbhargaon, Dalaj, Vitthalwadi, Khatgaon, Kettur, Agoti, Kalthan, Shaha, Surli, Wangi, and Sangvi. Each site holds its own ecological significance in supporting waterbird populations. The accompanying map offers a detailed visualization of these survey sites.​​​​​

A total of 161 bird species were documented during the Ujani waterbird Count Nov- 24. Among them, 27% were migratory, 65% were resident, 37% were waterbird species and 9% were local migrants.

The graph below, illustrates the highest species diversity documented at top five locations during the Ujani Waterbird Count. Among the surveyed sites, Kaltan emerged as the most diverse location, with a total count of 94 bird species.  Followed by Vitthalwadi being the second most diverse location with 85 species and Bhigwan with  79 species.

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 survey. The River Tern had the highest count, with nearly 500 individuals, followed closely by the Brown-headed Gull. The numbers then gradually decrease, with the Eurasian Coot, Whiskered Tern, and Little Cormorant showing lower counts.

Here is the detailed checklist of bird species recorded during the November 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
Tricolored Munia (Lonchura malacca)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Gray Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
White-browed Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis)
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala)
Red-headed Bunting (Emberiza bruniceps)
Asian Tit (Parus cinereus)
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus)
Indian Bushlark (Plocealauda erythroptera)
Mongolian Short-toed Lark (Calandrella dukhunensis)
Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura)
Tawny Lark (Galerida deva)
Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)
Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius)
Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata)
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)
Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata)
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus)
Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola)
Sykes's Warbler (Iduna rama)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Dusky Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor)
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica)
Streak-throated Swallow (Petrochelidon fluvicola)
Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca)
Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense)
Indian White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)
Common Babbler (Argya caudata)
Jungle Babbler (Argya striata)
Large Gray Babbler (Argya malcolmi)
Brahminy Starling (Sturnia pagodarum)
Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnia malabarica)
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
Indian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra)
Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus)
Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Brown Rock Chat (Oenanthe fusca)
Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus)
Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis)
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)
Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus)
Thick-billed Flowerpecker (Pachyglossa agilis)
Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus)
Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)
Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica)
Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
River Tern (Sterna aurantia)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)
Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus)
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala)
Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis)
Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)
Cinnamon Bittern (Botaurus cinnamomeus)
Eastern Cattle-Egret (Ardea coromanda)
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Medium Egret (Ardea intermedia)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Yellow Bittern (Botaurus sinensis)
Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus)
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
Red-naped Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)
Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Shikra (Tachyspiza badia)
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
Asian Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus)
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Indian Golden Oriole (Oriolus kundoo)
Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)
Spot-breasted Fantail (Rhipidura albogularis)
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus)
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
House Crow (Corvus splendens)
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)
Lesser Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna javanica)
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Gray Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus)
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
Red Collared-Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))
Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius)
Gray-bellied Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus)
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)
Pied Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus)
Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis)
Little Swift (Apus affinis)
Brown Crake (Zapornia akool)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Gray-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Indian Thick-knee (Burhinus indicus)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Little Ringed Plover (Thinornis dubius)
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus)
Greater Painted-Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus)
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus)
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Barred Buttonquail (Turnix suscitator)
Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)

The success of this Ujani Waterbird Count can be contributed to all the participants who selflessly participated for this count. 

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