Avifauna Around Pune

S. Ingalhallikar¹, R. Purandare², S. Nalavade³, S. Dhole⁴

1 Nishad, 12, Varshanand Society, Anandnagar, Hingne Road, Pune, 411 051.
 Email: lexon@pn2.vsnl.net.in
2 No. 78, Kapila Society, near Patrakar Nagar, Pune, 411 016.
Email: rahulpu@mahindrabt.com
3 Department Of Geography, Fergusson College, Shivaji Nagar, Pune, 411 005.
Email: nalawade123@vsnl.net
4 Flat 5, Bldg. 3 Anand Park, Shankarshet Road, Pune 411 037.
Email: konitari@hotmail.com

Introduction

Birds are perhaps the most studied amongst animal groups. Incidentally cities are known to be richer in birds than any other taxa. The richness of birds in Indian cities is mainly attributed to abundant food supply through garbage dumps etc., large number of planted trees that provide the nesting sites, shelter etc. and the traditional goodwill of Indians to all living beings (Burton, 1977). Many large cities in India support around 300 or more bird species with Delhi leading with 434 species, followed by Mumbai (350 species, Ali and Abdulali, 1941) and Bangalore (315 species, Karthikeyan, 1999), are some examples. Pune is no exception to this with 332 species annexed here. Besides the checklist, we also review ecological distribution and changes over times as inputs for future management.

Earlier Work

In the fourth quarter of 19th century many workers, mostly British civil and military officers, contributed to the study of the bird fauna of the Deccan plateau of which Pune is a part. The significant works of the period were those of Davidson and Wenden (1878), Butler (1880), Barnes (1888-1890) and Davidson (1895). Wenden (1885) described 55 shore and waterbirds from the lake Fife (Khadakwasla). Betham (1899, 1902) wrote extensively about birds nesting around Pune and neighbourhood. Trevenen (1922) mostly dealt with the game birds found in and around the station. Apte (1950-51, 1957) wrote a series of popular articles about the common birds of the area. Ambedkar’s (1964) landmark study about the breeding biology of the Common Baya Weaverbird was based at Pune. The first ever checklist for the city was given by Gole (1972), which included about 150 species. Goel (1976) came out with a checklist of about 80 bird species for Pune University campus, which is one of the most popular birding spots around the city. A more comprehensive checklist covering larger area was published by Friends of Animals Society (Mundkur and Kelker 1981). This checklist covered areas upto Sinhagad and included about 250 species. Zoological Survey of India (Singh, 1984) provided a short list of birds seen at two waterbodies near the city. Ingalhallikar and Gole (1987) recorded 290 species for a slightly larger area. Bradbeer (1987) published a checklist from London, which covered 295 bird species he observed from around Pune during the previous year. Mahabal and Lamba’s (1987) systematic list of 329 species and subspecies from ‘Pune and vicinity’ was based on bird specimens present in the collections of the Virus Research Station and the Western Regional Station of the Zoological Survey of India, Pune. Gole (1987) described owls around Pune while Ingalhallikar (1988) threw some light on the birds of prey around Pune. Gole (1989) gave a concise account of birds of Pune region. A recent addition to the checklist like literature was by Nalavade (1999) who recorded 90 bird species for the Fergusson college campus.

Besides mere listing, Pune birds have also been variously studied ecologically. Gole (1980) counted the city birds. The bird census covering 120 sq.km of the city area, enumerated about 55,000 birds belonging to 130 species with a density of 1.8 birds per acre. Nalavade (1981) geographically analyzed the city birds on the basis of their distribution. Gole (1985) studied the avifauna of the polluted stretches of the Mula-Mutha river and tried to describe some indicated species. Purandare (1984) did a systematic year-long study of breeding behaviour of Blackwinged Kite from a riverside grove along Mutha river. Mahabal (1989) made a comprehensive census of communally roosting birds and counted about 0.16 million birds for Pune city. His observations about Common Indian Myna are varied and include such aspects as roosting behaviour (1989), population fluctuations (1990), intra and interspecific assemblages (1992), communal display behavior (1993a), flocking behaviour (1993b), activity time budget (1993c) etc. Purandare (1994) conducted another significant study about the breeding biology of Large Pied Wagtail along with a list of 102 birds found in the wagtail habitat.

Many explored the appearances, occurrences, range extensions, first sighting/breeding records etc. of various birds. These include Abdulali (1961), Gole (1971, 1977), Ingalhallikar and Kothari (1978), Ingalhallikar and Dharap (1979), Mundkur (1981, 1983a, 1983b, 1984a, 1984b, 1985, 1986), Bapat (1982), Ara (1987), Ingalhallikar, Mundkur and Gole (1988). Watve’s (1989, 1994) observations about Bonnelli’s Eagle and his path breaking findings about the thinking ability of Small Green Bee-eater (Smitha et al, 1999) need special mention. Enthusiasts like A. Chaoji have been regularly monitoring and maintaining unpublished records of waterbirds under the Asian Waterfowl Census since 1990. Similarly, M. Gupte, S. Pande, S. Tambe have been regularly contributing articles supported with photographs to many Pune newspapers and magazines.

Distribution of birds across habitat types

The city and environs harbour six major habitat types that include Forest (F), Scrub (S), Grassland or ‘maals’ (G), Tree plantation (P) including garden, orchards and avenues, Houses (H), Agriculture (A) and Waterbodies (W). The first three habitat types (F,S,G) comprise the wilderness zones with low human impacts while the next three (P,H,A) comprise the impacted zone on land. Table 1 presents the number of species found across various habitat types. About a third of the species are waterbirds, primarily winter migratory. None of them are exclusive to impacted areas though a few such as Blackwinged stilt are most abundant in polluted water where hardly any other species survive. Even in terrestrial habitats, exclusive species are wanting though few species such as sparrow, crow and common myna are preferential of human habitations, being commensals of humans. Less than a tenth of the total species inhabit human habitations while only a third inhabit impacted zone, hardly any being exclusively so. On the contrary, over 90% of the total species inhabit the wilderness zone, over two thirds of them being exclusively so. This emphasises why hill forests, grasslands and waterbodies are essential to maintain over a third of the urban avifauna.

As a matter of fact, due to the mosaic of habitats the city region supports more bird species than the surrounding countryside. Populationwise also, the city region supports more birds than surrounding countryside. According to a survey made by one of the authors (SN), the average bird density within the city was 2.75 birds per hectare against 0.8 birds per hectare beyond the city’s eastern outskirts. Four species viz. House Sparrow, Crows (both House and Jungle), Common Myna and Blue Rock Pigeon form almost 70% of total bird population in western suburbs (mainly Kothrud). Four habitat types viz. Hill forest and scrub, tree plantations and waterbodies together support most of the urban avifauna. Wellwooded compounds with large, tall trees are popular roosting sites for communal birds like Crows, Mynas, Herons and Egrets, Parakeets and Kites. The five most important roosting areas for the communal birds include Peshwe park-Sarus Baug complex, Vaikuntha crematorium, Police Parade ground-Agriculture college campus, Pune University campus (old garden) and the Bund garden-Koregaon park-Empress garden belt.

Three species- House Sparrow, Common Myna and Blue Rock Pigeon exclusively build nests in human habitations. The number of individuals belonging to the following species increase during the monsoon season- Crows, Common Myna, Common Pariah Kite, Black Drongo, Longbilled and Whitebacked Vultures and Blue Jay. The heavy rainfall from the Ghat country probably forces these birds eastwards! According to Aitken (1905) - “The Common Kites go to Poona with the Government, for the monsoon months”. Almost all kinds of Egrets and Herons disappear from the city with the commencement of the monsoon. They reappear after the rainy season is over. They probably go down to Konkan for breeding (Mahabal, pers. comm.). House Crows, House Sparrows, Common Mynas, Roseringed Parakeets and Cattle Egrets go out of the city in the morning and return by evening. Their daily commuting routes more or less coincide with the river courses and the hill ranges.

Changes in the bird fauna

Remarkable changes in the status of some species and likely environmental factors that may be responsible for these changes are discussed in brief here. Forest dwelling raptors like Crested Serpent Eagle and Crested Hawk Eagle have declined in numbers though they have been observed to be nesting regularly. High rate of mortality may be due to infertile and brittle eggs! The Flycatchers and other forest dwelling insectivorous species have also shown a decline in numbers. Grassland raptors such as Buzzards, Harriers and Kestrels have declined. Laggar Falcon and Redheaded Merlin have also declined in number. Scavengers like Vultures have shown a sudden decline in the last few years. Reduction in number is alarming. They might be victims of epidemic reported all over India. Another possible localized reason is the closure of bone crushing factory at Kondhva, which used to be the main haunting ground of all sorts of Vultures.

Commoner species such as House Sparrows and Crows are showing declining trend particularly in the last five years. The proportion of Jungle Crow to House Crow has increased. The Redwhiskered Bulbul, once considered to be uncommon within the city has now started replacing the Redvented Bulbul as around Bibwewadi and Sinhagad road. Is this due to loss of treecover on the city outskirts? Little Brown Dove also seems to be declining. The removal of age-old Banyan and other fig trees from Pune-Paud road, Pune-Panshet road, Pune-Satara-Bangalore Highway and University road is probably preventing the Common Green Pigeon from visiting the area. Till recently the Green Pigeons were regular visitors to the roadside trees.

The waders along rivers, streams and lakes have declined significantly. However, there may not be much change in the population of Egrets and common Ducks. The rapid colonization of the riverbank and lakeshores could be the possible reason. The Little Cormorant, considered to be an uncommon bird in the past, has now become numerous especially along the rivers Mula-Mutha. The Blackwinged Stilt has also become numerous, especially around those spots, where sewage water enters the river. Pied Kingfisher has also declined in number, particularly along the much polluted stretch of the Mula-Mutha, where turbid water prevents it from fishing. The carpet of water hyacinth in the Mula river has also forced this beautiful Kingfisher to move elsewhere!

Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Indian Courser, Painted Sandgrouse, Brahminy Myna and some Quails are showing a declining trend. Non-insectivorous species of grassland and cultivations have not declined compared to the insectivorous species. Species such as Magpie-Robin, Iora, Sunbirds, Tailorbird, Redvented Bulbul, which are indirectly associated with urban habitats have not been affected. Owls as a whole except the Spotted Owlet are showing a declining trend.

To conclude, urbanisation is having significant impact on bird fauna, in terms of species diversity and composition as well as their populations. We hope that this glimpse will motivate many birdwatchers to carefully monitor these ongoing changes and guard against deleterious ones.

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Table 1

Species Diversity and Exclusivity Distribution across habitat types

Wu- un/less-impacted Waterbodies Wp- polluted waterbodies