Journal of Environmental Biology

Preliminary study on avian fauna of the Krishna River basin

Sangli District, Western Maharashtra, India

Suresh M. Kumbar* and Abhijit B. Ghadage

Department of Zoology, Arts, Commerce and Science College Palus, Sangli?416 310, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: smkumbar@rediffmail.com

 Publication Data

Paper received:

04 August 2012

Revised received:

13 August 2013

Re-revised received:

01 November 2013

Accepted:

31 December 2013

Abstract

The present study on avifaunal diversity carried out for three years at the Krishna River Basin, Sangli District revealed a total of 126 species of birds belonging to 30 families, of which 91 species were resident, 16 migratory, 12 resident and local migratory and 7 species were resident and migratory. Among the migrant birds, Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus was dominant in the study area. Commonly recorded resident bird species were, Red vented bulbul, Jungle crow, House sparrow, Common myna, Brahminy myna, Rock pigeon, Spotted dove, Rose ringed parakeet, Indian robin, White-browed fantail-flycatcher and Small sunbird. Most of the families had one or two species, whereas Muscicapidae family alone had 16 species. Forty one species of waterfowls were recorded in this small landscape. Out of 126 bird species, 38 were insectivorous, 28 piscivorous, 25 omnivorous, 19 carnivorous, 9 granivorous, 5 frugivorous and 2 species were nectar sucker and insectivorous. These results suggest that richness of avifauna in the Krishna River Basin, Western Maharashtra might be due to large aquatic ground, varied vegetations and favourable environmental conditions. ?

 Key words

Avifauna, Feeding guild, Krishna River basin

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