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.
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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 |
|---|
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