Data Zone
Country/territory: India
IBA criteria met: A1, A4iii (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 357,540 hectares (3,575.40 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2003 | not assessed | low | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2004 baseline)
The district of Bhavnagar lies to the west of the Gulf of Cambay in the Kathiawad peninsula in the State of Gujarat. The district used to hold numerous village tanks, estuaries and streams which were the main habitat for waterfowl, but many such natural habitats have been destroyed or have deteriorated in quality. However, their role is now taken over by salt pans. The saltworks have created an important habitat for wetland birds and are now being used by a great variety of species as a wintering area, which were once used by few waterfowl (Dharmakumarsinhji 1973). This new habitat serves as an important staging ground for migrant waterbirds moving along the coast.
Key biodiversity
AVIFAUNA: According to Dharmakumarsinhji (1973), Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata, Northern Pintail A. acuta, Common Teal A. crecca, Garganey A. querquedula, Spotbilled Duck A. poecilorhyncha, Wigeon A. penelope and Gadwall A. strepera were common in the salt reservoirs of Bhavnagar. This site has been selected as an IBA based on A1 and A4iii criteria. The salt pans attract hundreds of thousands of small waders, especially species belonging to Calidris, Tringa, Limosa and Numenius. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Oriental White Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, various egrets and two species of flamingos also forage in these saltpans and coastal lagoons. The only globally threatened species is the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus. Sometimes up to 200 individuals are seen here.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: These saltpans do not have any significant population of mammals or reptiles.
Acknowledgements
Key contributor: IBA Team.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Saltpans of Bhavnagar (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/saltpans-of-bhavnagar-iba-india on 22/12/2024.