Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: More than 165 bird species have been recorded (Phukan et al. 1997). Besides the Lesser Adjutant, there are some records of Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius. Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus is another globally threatened species seen here. It is of great conservation concern, as this large raptor requires undisturbed wetlands. The Bordiobam wetland is known as a breeding ground of the Large Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor, Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio, Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus, White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus and Watercock Gallicrex cinerea (Talukdar 1993). Although this IBA does not support more than 20,000 birds (A4iii criteria), it has great potential as a major waterfowl sanctuary of Assam. It has been selected on the basis of the endangered species found here.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Other important fauna of the site include the Fishing Cat Prionailurus viverrina, and Hog deer Axis porcinus. The latter has become very rare due to the destruction of its grassland habitat. Some Smooth Indian Otters Lutrogale perspicillata still survive.
Not much work has been done on amphibians and reptiles, although Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Bufo melanostictus, and Rhacophorus spp. have also been recorded.
The Forest Department of Assam has submitted a proposal to make this wetland a bird sanctuary. Presently, the wetland is controlled by the Revenue Department and fishing lease is granted annually (Choudhury 1990; Talukdar 1993). The disturbance caused by fishermen is tremendous and scares away the migratory birds. There are three villages on the fringe. Some villagers oppose the creation of the sanctuary, although the majority of them are supportive or neutral. Fishing, collection of grass and reeds, and poaching are the major problems.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bordoibam-Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bordoibam-bilmukh-bird-sanctuary-iba-india on 23/12/2024.