Status and Diversity of Wetland Birds of Basavanahalli Lake and Hiremagaluru Lake, Chikmagaluru, Karnataka, India

Wetlands are the unique and most productive ecosystem of the world. They support a wide range of flora and fauna. The present study deals with the study of the Avifaunal diversity of wetlands and adjoining area of lake. In this survey two wetlands of Chikkamagaluru have been studied which include Basavanahalli Lake, and Hiremagaluru Lake. The survey was carried for the period of 14 months i. e. from October 2016 to November 2017. During the study period forty two species of birds, belonging to thirteen families were recorded. Which includes both local and migratory birds. Birds belonging to the family Ardeidae found to be dominated by the representation of 8 species, followed by Anatidae7 species, Scolopacidae 5 species, Phalacrocracidae, Threskiornithidae and Ralidae 3species each, Ciconiidae, Laridae, Jacanidae, Charadriidae and Alcedinidae 2 species each and Podicipedidae 1 species. The study also revealed that the study sites harbor many resident as well as migratory birds. Four species like Black headed ibis (Threskiornismelanocephalus), Black tailed God wit (Limosalimosa), Painted Stork (Mycterialeucocephala) and River tern (Sterna aurantia) were near threatened and have a protected status under the schedule IV of Indian Wild life Protection Act, 1972.