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Site description (2004 baseline):

Gogabil (88 ha) was initially notified as a closed area for five years in 1990, which was further extended up to the year 2000, but thereafter the notification has not been extended. The site is situated about 33 km southeast of Katihari in Amdabad block. The lake is fed by the flood waters. Gogabil is a permanent waterbody, however, the level of water varies seasonally. This waterbody is surrounded by many other temporary wetlands. The floodwaters from Gogabil during monsoon form two wetlands, namely Baghar beel and Baldia chaur. These wetlands are inundated by overflow from the Gogabil river and local monsoon run-off. Baldia chaur is more shallow than Baghar and is seasonal only. Baghar beel is about 28 km southeast of Katihar. Its waterspread becomes about 25 ha in summer from about 400 ha in the monsoon. These chaurs or beels are oxbow lakes marking the historical course of Gogabil river. As the chaurs dry out, the exposed mud is covered with grasses and creepers. The great part of the exposed lake bed is subsequently brought under cultivation. Water from these wetlands is used for irrigation and domestic supply.

AVIFAUNA: Seventy-one bird species have been recorded from this site, of which one is Vulnerable, three Near Threatened and four are Biome-restricted species. The site falls in Biome-12 (Indo-Gangetic Plains) but many species of Biome-11 (Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone) are also reported from the site (A. Mishra in litt. 2002). During good monsoon years, when the waterspread is extensive, more than 20,000 waterfowl are likely to be present in all these wetlands. Not much work has been conducted on the waterfowl number, species composition, density and population fluctuation. Ringing information is also not available. This site can be considered as Data Deficient.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not known.

MAIN THREATS: Poaching; Trade of birds; Agricultural pesticides runoff; Land disputes; Leasing out of the site for fishing.

Leasing out of the site by the district administration for fishing has been a major issue, along with trapping, hunting, poaching, and illegal trade of birds. Agricultural pesticide run-off, land reclamation, and non-settlement of land disputes are other problems that need to be addressed.

Key contributor: Arvind Mishra.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Gogabil Pakshi Vihar, Baghar Beel and Baldia Chaur (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/gogabil-pakshi-vihar-baghar-beel-and-baldia-chaur-iba-india on 22/12/2024.