Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: Around 73 species of birds are recorded from this site (Vijaya Kumar and Choudhury 1994, 1995; Vijaya Kumar 1998-1992), including many species of Biome-11, i.e., Indo-Malayan Tropical Dry Zone. During winter, there are usually 30,000 birds (Vijaya Kumar 1988-1992). Although the number of the species present during winter remains roughly the same, the species population fluctuates. A very large congregation of Common Teal Anas crecca and Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus is found. Sometimes more than 1,500 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea are seen (Vijaya Kumar and Choudhury 1995). A Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber, ringed in 1971-74 in Lake Rezaiyeh, Azerbaijan, Iran was recovered here in the winter of 1986-87 (Vijaya Kumar 1988-1992). Fourteen species of birds breed in Manjira, Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala, Coot Fulica atra and Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax being the most significant breeders (Vijaya Kumar and Choudhury 1994). Many species are present in this IBA in much higher numbers than their 1% biogeographic population threshold determined by Wetlands International (2002). For instance, the population of Barheaded Goose Anser indicus is estimated to be between 52,000 to 60,000 (Wetlands International 2002). At Manjira, up to 500 are found regularly which is almost 1% of the population. To give a more specific example, about 3% of the non-breeding population of Brahminy Duck winters in Manjira. Wetlands International (2002) estimates about 50,000 individuals of this species in South Asia, whereas in Manjira, Vijaya Kumar and Choudhury (1995) have found up to 1,500. When the rainfall is inadequate in northwest India, large numbers of Demoiselle Crane Grus virgo are seen in peninsular India. For instance, 1986-87 saw extreme drought conditions in Gujarat, the main stronghold of Demoiselle and Common cranes Grus grus. In January 1987, about 3,000 Demoiselle cranes were seen in Manjira which according to recent population estimates by Wetlands International (2002), would be 3% of the total population of this species wintering in the Indian subcontinent. Such examples reinforce the importance of having a chain of IBAs in the general distribution of species range, so that if, one region is affected by human pressures or environmental factors, the species has other areas to fall back upon. In recent years, Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus and Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis, both Vulnerable species, have been sighted at Manjira (A. Pittie pers. comm. 2001).
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Among other fauna, an important species is the Mugger or Marsh Crocodile Crocodylus palustris.
On the northwest boundary of Manjira wetland, a larger waterbody has been formed by damming the Manjira river at Singur. Vijaya Kumar and Choudhury (1989) found nearly 22,000 birds in this waterbody including Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina and Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus, which were not seen in the Sanctuary. This area should be added to the notified area to develop Manjira-Singur Waterfowl Sanctuary. Incidentally, the Mugger population in Singur is quite good.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/manjira-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 23/12/2024.