Documentation of Avian Species Composition and Assemblage in Agricultural Landscapes of Karnal, Haryana

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1Amit Kour*, 2Dharambir Singh, 3Kiran, and 4Khushbu

Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences                              

Zoology (Animal Science), Vol.42A, No.2, 

July-December 2023: P.270-281

Description

Description

1Amit Kour*, 2Dharambir Singh, 3Kiran, and 4Khushbu

Author’s Affiliation:

1,3,4Research Scholar,  Department of Zoology & Aquaculture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University Hisar, Haryana 125004, India

2Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology & Aquaculture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana 125004, India

 

*Corresponding author:

Amit Kour

Research Scholar,  Department of Zoology & Aquaculture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University Hisar, Haryana 125004, India

E-mail: akour625@gmail.com

 

Article Info:

Received on 12.09.2023

Revised on 07.11.2023

Approved on 12.11.2023

Accepted on 28.11.2023

Published on 20.12.2023

Abstract
Avian communities maintain ecological balance by eliminating pests, providing ecosystem services, and acting as biological indicators, thereby playing a pivotal role in conserving agricultural landscapes’ integrity and stability; thus from an environmental monitoring standpoint, assessment of bird aggregations in various landscapes is necessary. A three-year (2021, 2022 and 2023) bird survey was conducted to document the checklist, density, and diversity of bird species assemblage of agricultural landscapes in the Karnal district of Haryana, India, to obtain the richness of birds in different agricultural habitats. A total of 79 bird species from 36 families and 14 orders were recorded; two bird species (Alexandrine Parakeet and Black-Headed Ibis) are listed as Near Threatened in the ‘IUCN’ (2010) category. Seventeen avian species with global declining population trends are present in the study area. The Passeriformes order, with 44 species, is the most diverse in the study area. In all habitats, analysis of food and feeding guilds, as well as perching activity, revealed that the insectivorous guild (29) is dominant, followed by Omnivore (25), Carnivore (11), Granivore (7), Frugivore (5), and Nectarivore (2). The results of this study indicate that, in order to enhance the quality of bird habitat in agricultural landscapes, biodiversity-friendly farming practices should be adopted.   Keywords: Aves, Agriculture Landscape, Biodiversity-friendly agriculture, Conservation