Wildlife Research and Conservation Society
Exploring Avian Diversity: Highlights from Ujani Bird Count January 2025
The Ujani Waterbird Count was a collaborative citizen science initiative undertaken with the Solapur Forest Division on January 26th, 27th, and 28th, 2025. Conducted from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM at 13 distinct sites, the survey aimed to record the diverse avian species present at the Ujani Reservoir, with a special emphasis on waterbirds. Its key objectives were to evaluate the conservation status of these birds, decipher their migratory trends, and develop a management action plan for the reservoir.
Covering vital waterbird habitats, the survey was carried out at 13 locations—Bhigwan/Takrarwadi, Diksal, Kondhar Chincholi, Kumbhargaon, Dalaj, Vitthalwadi, Khatgaon, Kettur, Kalthan, Shaha, Agoti, and Wangi. Each of these sites plays a crucial role in sustaining waterbird populations. An accompanying map offers a detailed overview of these survey locations, highlighting their geographic spread and ecological significance.
During the Ujani waterbird Count on January 25, a total of 136 bird species were recorded. Of these, 24% were migratory, 69% were resident, and 7% were local migrants.
The accompanying graph highlights the top five survey locations in terms of species diversity. Among these sites, Kumbhargaon recorded the highest diversity with 70 species. Both Khatgaon and Kettur each documented 61 species, while Vitthalwadi and Dalaj each reported 59 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 showcases the top five waterbird species with the highest individual counts during the birdcount. The Indian Cormorant was recorded in the greatest number, followed by the Glossy Ibis, Eurasian Coot, Northern Shoveler, and Whiskered Tern.
Below is the detailed checklist of bird species recorded during the January Bird Count 2025. This comprehensive list represents the incredible diversity of avian life observed during the survey and highlights the rich biodiversity of the region.
Species Name |
|---|
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) |
Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) |
Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica) |
Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) |
Red-naped Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) |
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) |
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) |
River Tern (Sterna aurantia) |
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) |
Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus) |
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) |
Ruff (Calidris pugnax) |
Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura) |
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) |
Shikra (Tachyspiza badia) |
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) |
Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea) |
Spot-breasted Fantail (Rhipidura albogularis) |
Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) |
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) |
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) |
Streak-throated Swallow (Petrochelidon fluvicola) |
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) |
Tricolored Munia (Lonchura malacca) |
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) |
Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) |
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) |
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) |
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) |
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) |
Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) |
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) |
Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense) |
Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) |
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) |
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) |
Gray Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus) |
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) |
Gray-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) |
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) |
Great Egret (Ardea alba) |
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) |
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) |
Greater Painted-Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) |
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) |
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) |
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) |
House Crow (Corvus splendens) |
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) |
Indian Bushlark (Plocealauda erythroptera) |
Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) |
Indian Golden Oriole (Oriolus kundoo) |
Indian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) |
Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii) |
Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus) |
Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) |
Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) |
Indian Thick-knee (Burhinus indicus) |
Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) |
Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus) |
Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) |
Large Gray Babbler (Argya malcolmi) |
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) |
Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) |
Lesser Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) |
Lesser Whitethroat (Curruca curruca) |
Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) |
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) |
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) |
Little Ringed Plover (Thinornis dubius) |
Little Stint (Calidris minuta) |
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) |
Medium Egret (Ardea intermedia) |
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) |
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) |
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) |
Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) |
Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) |
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) |
Pallas's Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) |
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) |
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) |
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) |
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) |
Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata) |
Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis) |
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus) |
Asian Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) |
Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) |
Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) |
Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) |
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) |
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) |
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) |
Bay-backed Shrike (Lanius vittatus) |
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) |
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) |
Black Kite (Milvus migrans) |
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) |
Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) |
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) |
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) |
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) |
Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica) |
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) |
Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata) |
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) |
Brahminy Starling (Sturnia pagodarum) |
Brown Crake (Zapornia akool) |
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) |
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) |
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) |
Chestnut-tailed Starling (Sturnia malabarica) |
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) |
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) |
Common Babbler (Argya caudata) |
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) |
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) |
Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) |
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) |
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) |
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) |
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) |
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) |
Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius) |
Dusky Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor) |
Eastern Cattle-Egret (Ardea coromanda) |
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) |
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) |
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) |
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) |
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) |
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) |
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) |
Garganey (Spatula querquedula) |
The Ujani Waterbird Count owes its success to the enthusiastic and selfless contributions of all the participants.
Illustration Credit: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home