WATER BIRD DIVERSITY AT HEGGERI LAKE, HAVERI ... - CES

WATER BIRD DIVERSITY AT HEGGERI LAKE,HAVERI DISTRICTN R BirasalZoology Department, KLE Society’s G H CollegeHaveri – 581 110, Karnataka statenrbirasal@gmail.com

The Ramsar convention, which cameinto force in December 1973, demandsan urgent need to develop theconservation strategies andmanagement plan by inventorying,monitoring and documenting thediversity and density of biodiversity withspecial reference to water fowls. Withthis back drop, inventorying water fowlsdiversity is taken up in obsoleteHeggeri lake

Some of the birds which were inhabitingthe Heggeri lake from 1997 – 2003 likeFlamingoes, White breasted water-hen,Little grebe, Spot-billed pelican, Asianopen bill stork, Great stone plover, Storkbilled kingfisher, Nakta duck, EurasianWigeon, Mallard, Blue winged teals andPoachard were not recorded during ourstudy period (2004 – 2006).

Since the lake dries in summer and beingpolluted by excessive use of inorganic fertilizers,the bird life in the lake is threatened. With some ofthe birds observed prior to 2003 and their notedabsence from 2004-20062006 indicate that water fowlsare yet to identify the lake as a comfortablehabitat. It was evident that water fowl populationwas found to be maximum in the month ofDecember. Moderate volume of water storage,favourable temperature, availability of food may bethe cause for maximum population.

As there are cultivable fields around the lake,most of the birds are displaced in rainy season. It hasbeen observed that the bird population was minimumin the month of June and steadily increased there ontill December.Though our study period ended in June 2006,our team made visits to the lake from thecommencement of this years rainy season (2007). Thelake was totally dry from June 2006 to January 2007and hence no birds were seen in the lake except a fewin the nearby fields of the lake. However, the birdscongregated in large numbers during winter seasonsof 2008, 2009. The population of Bar-headed geesecrossed 400 during winter season of 2009.

In the recent years, large number of purplemoorhens are inhabiting the lake. Whether thesebirds are indicators of weed infestation andincreased vegetation is a matter of debate. Thereis necessity to undertake measures to restore itsoriginal features so as to make this lake an abodeof wetland birds.The state owned (minor irrigation department) isgrossly neglected. The water and soil was lifted forthe bypass and four lane highway work (GoldenQuadrilateral project of the union government).Due to disturbances around the lake, the numberof birds visiting the lake is reducing.

Though there is a clear instruction from MinorIrrigation department to maintain the water level inthe lake, farmers in the catchment area utilizewater without maintaining water above deadstorage level. Due to drying up of lake, the birdsare forced to change their feeding grounds fromHeggeri to neighbouring lakes.In spite of a few disturbing factors, the sitedeserves a protected bird sanctuary status. Thespot bills, pint ails, red shank, sand piper, curlews,godwits, painted storks, spoon bills and bar-headed geese make this lake their home for fewmonths every year and are seen in good numbersin this lake.

CONCLUSION : The water body isattracting variety of birds since many yearsand considered as stopover site formigratory birds. If the water body has to bepreserved for their intended use, asustainable and holistic managementplanning is necessary for conservation ofthis Heggeri lake.It has been proved that the alteredecological characteristics of the lake madethe birds unable to inhabit year after year.Efforts should be made to restore originalfeatures of the lake to make the lake anabode of waterfowls.