Wildlife Research and Conservation Society
Ujani Bird Count February 2025: A Glimpse into Avian Diversity
The Ujani Waterbird Count is a collaborative citizen science initiative conducted in collaboration with the Solapur Forest Division from 22nd to 28th February 2025. Conducted from 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM across 14 distinct sites, the survey aimed to document the diverse avian species inhabiting the Ujani Reservoir, with a particular focus on waterbirds. Its primary objectives is to assess the conservation status of these birds, analyze their migratory patterns, and contribute to the development of a management action plan for the reservoir.
The survey covered 14 locations, including Bhigwan, Diksal, Kondhar Chincholi, Kumbhargaon, Dalaj, Vitthalwadi, Khatgaon, Kettur, Kalthan, Shaha, Agoti, Surli, and Wangi. Each of these sites plays a vital role in supporting waterbird populations. A corresponding map provides a visual representation of these survey locations.
During the Ujani waterbird Count , a total of 135 bird species were documented. Of these, 25% were migratory, 65% were resident, and 10% 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 83 species. Followed by Wangi with 70 species, both Khatgaon and Kondhar Chincholi documented 66 species, while Sangvi reported 65 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 most abundant waterbird species during the birdcount. The Glossy Ibis was recorded in the greatest number, followed by the Eurasian Coot, Brown headed Gull, Northern Shovelar and Whiskered Tern.
Below is the detailed checklist of bird species recorded during the February 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 |
|---|
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) |
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) |
Garganey (Spatula querquedula) |
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) |
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) |
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) |
Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) |
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) |
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) |
Gray Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus) |
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) |
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) |
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) |
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) |
Red Collared-Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica) |
Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) |
Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis) |
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) |
Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) |
Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius) |
Little Swift (Apus affinis) |
Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) |
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) |
Gray-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) |
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) |
Brown Crake (Zapornia akool) |
Baillon's Crake (Zapornia pusilla) |
Indian Thick-knee (Burhinus indicus) |
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) |
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) |
Little Ringed Plover (Thinornis dubius) |
Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) |
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) |
Kentish Plover (Anarhynchus alexandrinus) |
Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) |
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) |
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) |
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) |
Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) |
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) |
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) |
Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) |
Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) |
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) |
Ruff (Calidris pugnax) |
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) |
Little Stint (Calidris minuta) |
Barred Buttonquail (Turnix suscitator) |
Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea) |
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) |
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) |
Pallas's Gull (Ichthyaetus ichthyaetus) |
Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) |
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) |
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) |
River Tern (Sterna aurantia) |
Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) |
Asian Woolly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus) |
Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) |
Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster) |
Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger) |
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) |
Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) |
Yellow Bittern (Botaurus sinensis) |
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) |
Indian Pond-Heron (Ardeola grayii) |
Great Egret (Ardea alba) |
Medium Egret (Ardea intermedia) |
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) |
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) |
Eastern Cattle-Egret (Ardea coromanda) |
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) |
Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) |
Red-naped Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) |
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) |
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) |
Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) |
Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) |
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) |
Shikra (Tachyspiza badia) |
Black Kite (Milvus migrans) |
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) |
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops) |
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) |
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) |
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) |
Asian Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) |
Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) |
Indian Golden Oriole (Oriolus kundoo) |
Common Woodshrike (Tephrodornis pondicerianus) |
Spot-breasted Fantail (Rhipidura albogularis) |
Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) |
Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) |
House Crow (Corvus splendens) |
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) |
Rufous-tailed Lark (Ammomanes phoenicura) |
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix griseus) |
Indian Bushlark (Plocealauda erythroptera) |
Tawny Lark (Galerida deva) |
Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis) |
Plain Prinia (Prinia inornata) |
Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata) |
Blyth's Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) |
Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) |
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) |
Dusky Crag-Martin (Ptyonoprogne concolor) |
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) |
Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) |
Eastern Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) |
Streak-throated Swallow (Petrochelidon fluvicola) |
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) |
Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) |
Yellow-eyed Babbler (Chrysomma sinense) |
Indian White-eye (Zosterops palpebrosus) |
Large Gray Babbler (Argya malcolmi) |
Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus) |
Indian Pied Starling (Gracupica contra) |
Brahminy Starling (Sturnia pagodarum) |
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) |
Indian Robin (Copsychus fulicatus) |
Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) |
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) |
Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata) |
Purple-rumped Sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica) |
Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) |
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) |
Indian Silverbill (Euodice malabarica) |
Tricolored Munia (Lonchura malacca) |
Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) |
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) |
Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) |
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola) |
White-browed Wagtail (Motacilla maderaspatensis) |
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) |
Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) |
The Ujani Waterbird Count owes its success to the enthusiastic and selfless contributions of all the participants.
Illustration Credit: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home