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Site description (2004 baseline):

Kurra Jheel is near Hajipura village in Kurra post, Mainpuri district. There are several small, medium and large wetlands, interspersed with agricultural fields, providing ideal Sarus Crane Grus antigone habitat. At least 400 Sarus with 17-25 breeding pairs are found in the summer (April-May). Sarsai Nawar, Kudaiyya wetland, Amberpur marshlands and the Saman Katra area are under threat of being drained for agriculture under a development plan of the Agriculture Ministry (K. S. Gopi Sunder pers. comm. 2003).

AVIFAUNA: The wetland attracts large numbers of migratory birds in winter, besides the resident bird fauna. The site is particularly important for its large Sarus Crane population (K. S. Gopi Sunder pers. comm. 2003). The site is also known for large congregations of water birds in winter, numbering more than 20,000. Besides Sarus Cranes, other threatened birds recorded from this site are the Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius and Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga. Yellow Weaver Ploceus megarhynchus may be present, but needs to be confirmed.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: The site has been selected on the basis of a large number of waterfowl and congregation of Sarus cranes, however, it is not particularly important for other terrestrial fauna.

MAIN THREATS: Poaching; Drainage of water.

Since it is a non-protected site, owned by local people and partly under the revenue department, the wetland is locally protected but there are reports of bird poaching. The wetland is being used for agriculture after drainage of water. Local people also catch fish from the wetland. The fauna and flora and the conservation issues affecting this potential site need to be documented.

Key contributor: K. S. Gopi Sunder.

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