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Site description (2004 baseline):

This waterbody is situated along the Karhal-Kishni highway in Mainpuri district, about 8 km from Karhal town. It is also approachable from Saiphai town to its west, via a smaller road. The marsh is situated just beside the village Kudaiyya and is formed by the flooding of a natural depression in the landscape. The most prominent feature of the marsh is the abundant growth of Typha that is clearly distinguishable even from a distance. Less than half of the water surface is open, but much of these areas are hidden from view by tall reeds. The wetland’s appearance changes dramatically in the monsoon, as it is filled with pink lotus flowers, which bloom in profusion. The principal source of water to the marsh is rain. However, it is connected to a tributary of the rightwing Ganga canal, and frequently gets water through this source throughout the year. Even when completely full during the monsoon, water depth in the wetland does not exceed 1.5 m in the deepest parts. For the most part, it is less than 0.5 m, and the marsh dries up in the peak summer month of June, before it is filled up by the rain water again in July. The marsh is overgrown with lilies, lotus, many sedges, grasses and aquatic plants, all of which give the impression that the water is clogged with vegetation. The single reason why this site is important is its function as a stop-over point for thousands of ducks, waders, and pelicans, both at the beginning and the end of the winter. Over 45 species use the lake for 2-3 days before moving on. During rest of the winter, a few hundred ducks stay back. The marsh is also the roosting area of a resident flock of over 200 Sarus Crane Grus antigone. In summer, this marsh is the only source of water for the farmers of the surrounding paddy fields till the monsoon arrives. During the monsoon and immediately afterwards, the lake supports impressive congregations of the Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanicus, Purple Moorhen or Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio, and Pheasant-tailed jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus.

AVIFAUNA: Birds are clearly the most important and conspicuous taxa to justify the conservation of this wetland. Between late October and early November, many flocks of wintering waterbirds stop over at this site before continuing their southbound journey. Counts of ducks during 2000 and 2001 ranged from 45,000 - 65,000. The principal duck species were Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Common teal Anas crecca, Wigeon Anas penelope, some Coot Fulica atra and Redcrested Pochard Netta rufina. The most common wader species that uses this wetland as a stopover site is the Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa; one flock in the year 2000 numbered 4,000 (Gopi Sunder pers. comm. 2003). The largest flock of the Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus counted in this marsh numbered 300 individuals in the winter of 2001. Over 150 species of birds have been sighted in and along the wetland, and include bitterns, crakes, moorhens, lapwings, spoonbills, and wagtails (Gopi Sunder pers. comm. 2003). Apart from the congregation of 200 Sarus Cranes (Gopi Sunder 2001) the wetland is also home to a minimum of eight breeding pairs of this species, most of which were able to raise at least one chick a year between 1999-2002; a minimum of 13 young Sarus dispersed from these territories in this period (Gopi Sunder pers. comm. 2003). Colour-banding of Sarus Crane chicks living in the area indicated that the territory sizes of these pairs were much smaller than the average for the region, indicating better territory quality for these cranes. One breeding pair of Black-necked Storks Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus uses this marsh as part of its territory, and has been seen to breed successfully in 1999 and 2001. The largest count of the Lesser Whistling teal in the wetland was 15,000 in October 2000.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Other fauna that inhabit the wetland include a very healthy population of the Soft-shelled Turtle Lissemys punctata and a few Pond Terrapins Geoclemys hamiltonii. Signs of Common Otter Lutra lutra can be frequently obtained around the wetland, but they are decidedly rare. A thriving population of Jungle Cat Felis chaus lives among the reeds the year round.

MAIN THREATS: Poaching; Cultivation of water chestnut; Removal of water for cultivation (irregular irrigation practices); Agricultural expansion on the banks of the lake; Conversion of public, common lands to private lands; Eutrophication.

Waterfowl are hunted regularly during the winter but not for commercial purposes. With increased awareness among the villagers in recent years, this practice is severely discouraged. The marsh is hedged by crop fields on all sides, and agricultural expansion is the most serious threat to the waterbody. The panchayat (village council) has most of the power to regulate human activities in the area, and so far, has succeeded in maintaining the area as common grazing grounds for cattle, and for collection of lotus. Increased inflow of water due to unplanned work by the State Irrigation Department and other departments has been responsible for aggravating public opinion against maintenance of the wetland, and pressure to completely drain the wetland is growing increasingly. However, the biggest and long-term threat is the wetlands drainage project funded by the World Bank. Construction of a culvert at Kudaiyya has resulted in the decline of the resident Sarus population from over 200 to just 22 (Gopi Sunder 2001).

Key contributor: K. S. Gopi Sunder.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kudaiyya marshland (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kudaiyya-marshland-iba-india on 23/12/2024.