Research Article

Bird diversity of in and around Melamadai Lake Madurai city, Tamil Nadu state, India; A preliminary study

Selvaraj Selvamurugan

Translational Health Science and Technology Institute Building (THSTI), Faridabad-121001, India

Corresponding author e-mail: selva199420@yahoo.in

(Received: 02/02/2023; Revised: 29/04/2023; Accepted: 22/06/2023)

ABSTRACT

Fresh water Lakes are suitable habitat for birds along with food and water. In the present study an attempt has been made to assess the diversity of avian fauna in Melamadai Lake in Madurai district, Tamilnadu state. The duration of study period in January 2021 to December 2021. Eighty-four species of birds were observed, belonging to 41 families, 18 order in Melamadai lake.  In this study recorded in Least concern (LC) 79 species and   Near Threatened (NT)Five species. The five Near Threatened species – Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster ), Pied Cuckoo-dove(Reinwardtoena browni ), Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) and Painted Stork-(Mycteria leucocephala)- are protected under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The diversity of avifauna is taken for identifying the importance of biodiversity for Madurai which is among the top ten tourism sites of world. The role of urban areas in functions such as provision of ecosystem services will largely be determined by patterns of biodiversity within that area.

Keywords: Birds, species, diversity, Lake, Status, wetland, Madurai.