Community Composition and Threats Status of Ornithofauna of Bakhira Bird Sanctuary: A Wetland Ecosystem

Understanding the diversity and structure of bird communities is indispensable to delineate the importance of regional or local landscapes for avian conservation. The aim of the present study was to appraise community composition and threat status of avifauna of Bakhira Bird Sanctuary. The various species of birds were identified by using key references. During the study period 84 species of birds were identified. Maximum 15 species of birds were found to be belonging to order Anseriformes followed by minimum 2 species in Bucerotiformes and Gruiformes. We have enlisted 22 species of wetland birds in family Anatidae. However, only 1 species has been recognized in 11 different families. The documentation of the residential status of avifauna showed that 47 resident species (R), 28 migrant species (M) and 9 as resident migrant species (RM). According to the IUCN based categorization, maximum 86.90% species were recorded as least concerned (LC), followed by 1.19% endangered (EN), 4.76% near threatened (NT) and 7.14% vulnerable (VU). Guild based classification uncovered that maximum (44) birds were carnivorous and minimum (1) piscivorous. The result of our study concluded that Bakhira Bird Sanctuary is facing huge anthropogenic threats which include trapping and hunting of birds, habitat destruction by soil erosion, sedimentation and extension of crop fields, water pollution and eutrophication.