A Study on Avifaunal Diversity Status in Lakes of Dharwad, Karnataka State

The present study was conducted to determine the avifaunal diversity in lakes of Dharwad city. Of the three lakes studied, highest number of species was recorded in Sadhankeri followed by Kelageri and Nuggikeri lakes. A total of 53 species of birds spread over 31 families and 15 orders were documented in three lakes of Dharwad. Maximum species of birds belonged to Passeriformes followed by Charadriiformes, Pelecaniformes, Anseriformes, Coraciiformes, Cuculiformes, Accipitriformes, Gruiformes and Columbiformes, whereas Psittaciformes, Piciformes, Bucerotiformes, Ciconiformes, Suliformes and Podicipediformes consisted of one species each. The Passeriformes was dominant with 10 families, whereas Charadriiformes, Coraciiformes and Pelecaniformes contributed to five, three and two families each, respectively. The richness in avian diversity in these lakes might be due to availability of food and favorable ecological conditions that support breeding and nesting behaviors.