SHRI SHIVAJI SCIENCE COLLEGE, AMRAVATI
DBT STAR COLLEGE PROJECT ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY REPORT
Study of Avian Diversity of Wetlands Project Title –To Study the Resident & Migratory Wetland Birds.
Activity Dates: 28/02/2026
Type of Activity: Minor Research Project
Organizing Department: Department of Zoology
Program Coordinators: Dr. A. R. Rajoria
Head of the Department: Dr. J. D. Dhote
External Collaborator (if any): -
Objectives:
- 1. To survey and document the species richness, diversity and abundance of birds of a specific region or habitat.
- 2. To understand avian composition according to variable seasons (migratory vs. Resident
- Winter vs. summer visitors)
- 3. To identify and classify bird species present in the study area and determine the dominance of different families.
- 4. To understand the effects of anthropogenic factors like urbanization, habitat loss etc. on avifaunal diversity.
- 5. To inform students about role of avian fauna as bioindicators and to identify threatened, endangered or near threatened species.
No of Beneficieries: 56
Classes Involved: B. Sc. IIIrd Year Students
Venue of the Activity: Malkhed Lake, Amravati.
Activity Report:
As a part of Minor Research Project, Department of Zoology organized a field visit on 28th February 2026 at Malkhed Lake, Amravati. The minor research project entiltled “Study of Avian Diversity of Wetlands Project Title –To Study the Resident & Migratory Wetland Birds” was aimed to survey and document the avian diversity of Malkhed Lake, Amravati wetland ecosystem.
The visit started at 7.30am on 28th Feb. 2026 from Shri Shivaji Science College, Amravati premises with a total of 56 students from B. Sc. IIIrd Year, accompanied by Dr. G. A. Wagh, Professor and DBT Departmental Coordinator and Dr. A. R. Rajoria, Asstt. Prof. and Activity incharge with Mr. Mangesh Solanke, supporting staff.
After reaching Malkhed Lake at around 8.15am, Dr. G. A. Wagh briefed the students about the diversity of Malkhed Lake wetland area. He gave knowledge about the resident or Migratory or semi- resident birds of the area and instructed them to note down names of the wetland birds cited and take photographs of the same. Till 11:30am, students surveyed the area and noted down the names of the birds in their notepad. The identification of the birds were done with the help of the manuals and materials provided to the students. Before departing to Amravati, students were given breakfast and then the bus departed for Amravati at around 12:10pm and reached the college premises at 01:00pm and from there, students dispersed to their respective places.
A Compilated checklist of the Malkhed region was prepared as follows with their IUCN Status and their species status like Resident of Migratory etc.
Table - Checklist of birds associated with Wetland habitat of Malkhed Lake.
Sr.
No Common Name Scientific Name Family ST IUCN status
1 Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygnajavanica DENDROCYGNDAE (1) R LC
2 Northern Pintail Anasacuta ANATIDAE (12)
W LC
3 Common Teal Anascrecca W LC
4 Red-crested Pochard Nettarufina W LC
5 Common Pochard Aythyaferina W VU
6 Indian Spot-billed Duck Anaspoecilorhyncha R LC
7 Gadwall Marecastrepera W LC
8 Garganey Anasquerquedula W LC
9 Northern Shoveller Anasclypeata W LC
10 Eurasian Wigeon Anaspenelope W LC
11 Ruddy (Brahminy) Duck Tadornaferruginea W LC
12 Comb Duck (Knob-billed) Sarkidiornismelanotos R LC
13 Cotton Pigmy goose Nettapuscoromandelianus R LC
14 Common Kingfisher Alcedoatthis ALCEDINIDAE (1) R LC
15 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis HALCYONIDAE (1) R LC
16 Pied Kingfisher Cerylerudis CERYLIDAE (1) R LC
17 White-breasted Waterhen Amanrornisphoenicurus RALLIDAE (4) R LC
18 Purple Swamphen Porphyrioporphyrio R LC
19 Common Moorhen Gallinulachloropus R LC
20 Common Coot Fulicaatra R LC
21 Black-tailed Godwit Limosalimosa SCOLOPACIDAE (8) W NT
22 Pintail Snipe Gallinagostenura W LC
23 Green Sandpiper Tringaochropus W LC
24 Common Sandpiper Actitishypoleucos W LC
25 Wood Sandpiper Tringaglareola W LC
26 Marsh sandpiper Tringastagnatilis W LC
27 Little Stint Calidrisminuta W LC
28 Temminck’s Stint Calidristemminckii W LC
29 Greater-painted Snipe Rostratula benghalensis ROSTRATULIDAE (1) R LC
30 Indian Stone-Curlew Burhinus indicus BRUHINIDAE (2) R LC
31 Great Stone Curlew Esacusrecurvirostris R NT
32 Black-winged Stilt Himantopushimantopus CHARADRIIDAE (5)
RM LC
33 Little-ringed Plover Charadriusdubius W LC
34 Kentish Plover Charadriusalexandrinus BM LC
35 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus R LC
36 Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellusmalabaricus R LC
37 River Tern Sterna aurantia STERNIDAE(3) RM NT
38 Little Tern Sterna albifrons BM LC
39 Whiskered Tern Chlidoniashybridus W LC
40 Little Grebe Tachybaptusruficollis PODICIPEDIDAE (1) R LC
41 Darter Achinga melanogaster ANHINGIDAE(1) R NT
42 Little Cormorant Phalacrocoraxniger PHALACROCORACIDAE (3) R LC
43 Indian Cormorant Phalacrocoraxfuscicollis R LC
44 Great Cormorant Phalacrocoraxcarbo R LC
45 Little Egret Egrettagarzetta ARDEIDAE (7) R LC
46 Great Egret Casmerodiusalbus R LC
47 Intermediate Egret Mesophoyxintermedia R LC
48 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis R LC
49 Grey Heron Ardeacinerea R LC
50 Purple Heron Ardeapurpurea R LC
51 Indian Pond Heron Ardeolagrayii R LC
52 Black-headed Ibis Threskiornismelanocephalus PHOENICOPTERIDAE (4) R NT
53 Black Ibis Pseudibispapillosa R LC
54 Glossy Ibis Plegadis facinellus
55 Eurasian Spoonbill Platalealeucorodia W LC
56 Painted Stork Myeterialeucocephala CICONIIDAE (3) RM NT
57 Asian Openbill Anastomusoscitans W LC
58 Asian Wooly-necked Stork Ciconiaepiscopus R VU
59 White Wagtail Motacilla alba PASSERIDAE (6) W LC
60 White-browed Wagtail Motacillamaderaspatensis R LC
61 Citrine Wagtail Motacillacitreola W LC
62 Yellow Wagtail Motacillaflava W LC
63 Grey Wagtail Mptacillacinereal W LC
64 Paddy-field Pipit Anthusrufulus R LC
65 Twany Pipit Anthus campestris W LC
R-WidespreadResident,W-WidespreadWinterVisitor,PV-Passagevisitors,RM-ResidentMigrant,BM-BreedingMigrant, V-Vagrant or irregular visitors.
IUCN’s list of Threatened species(2023), categorized as Least Concerned (LC),NearThreatened (NT) and Vulnerable (VU).
This Minor research project activity on “Study of Avian Diversity of Wetlands Project Title –To Study the Resident & Migratory Wetland Birds” was organized and conducted under the guidance of Dr. J. D. Dhote, Prof. & Head, Department of Zoology and Dr. G. A. Wagh, Prof. & Departmental DBT Coordinator, Dr. A. R. Rajoria, Asstt. Prof. & Activity Incharge and teaching and non-teaching staff of department of Zoology.
Outcomes:
- 1. Students will survey and document the species richness, diversity and abundance of birds of a specific region or habitat.
- 2. Students will understand avian composition according to variable seasons (migratory vs. Resident
- Winter vs. summer visitors)
- 3. Students will identify and classify bird species present in the study area and determine the dominance of different families.
- 4. Students will get an idea about the effects of anthropogenic factors like urbanization, habitat loss etc. on avifaunal diversity.
- 5. Students will gain information about role of avian fauna as bioindicators and to identify threatened, endangered or near threatened species.
Photos:
 Avian Fauna observation and discussion among students. |  Instructions given by Dr. G. A. Wagh to students regarding documentation of the avian fauna. |
 Students observing the avian fauna with the help of binoculars. |  Discussion among students while identifying the birds with the help of provided materials. |
 Students noting down the cited birds name in their notebook. |  Group photo of the activity |
Attendance Sheet:
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