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Site description (2004 baseline):

Mirgund jheel is a shallow freshwater lake with associated reed beds and riverine marshes on the river Jhelum. The lake is fed by the local runoff and two nullhas. Much of the wetland dries out during the summer, and the water level fluctuates considerably according to the local runoff. The depth of the water varies between 0.1 m and 0.5 m. Large areas of Willow (Salix sp.) have been planted on the periphery of the lake (Scott 1989). Earthen bunds have been constructed to maintain the water level, and also to control siltation. The area has extensive reed beds and marshland. The open waterspread has floating communities of Nymphea candicia and N. stellata. The wetland is surrounded by paddy fields, pastures and plantations. All these habitat types provide foraging grounds for birds.

AVIFAUNA: This IBA is an important wintering and staging ground for thousands of migratory waterfowl. These include: the Common Teal Anas crecca, Northern Pintail A. acuta, Eurasian Wigeon A. penelope, Mallard A. platyrhynchos, Gadwall A. strepera, Northern Shoveller A. clypeata and Common Pochard Aythya ferina. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus and Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus are said to breed in the marshes. Three to four Sarus cranes Grus antigone are regularly seen here (M. R. Dar pers. comm. 2003). Many birds occur in much larger numbers than their 1% population threshold determined by Wetlands International (2002). This site has been selected because it could be the northwestern most range of Sarus Crane in India. Another reason is the presence of very large numbers of migratory and resident birds. The third reason is its potential to become a very important bird sanctuary of the Kashmir Valley.

OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not much is known about other fauna, except that the ubiquitous Golden Jackal Canis aureus occurs here. A variety of fishes such as Cyprinus carpio, Barbus conchonius and Gambusia affinis are found in the jheel.

MAIN THREATS: Siltation; Agricultural intensification and expansion; Encroachment.

The Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir protects the lake as a reserve for waterfowl. Parts of the marsh have been fenced to prevent damage to marshy areas by cattle. Earthen bunds have been constructed to maintain water levels. Proposals have been made to fence the entire area and plant water chestnut Trapa natans. Earlier, regulated hunting of waterfowl was allowed, but now it has been stopped. However, the birds are not being monitored. If effective conservation measures are taken, this IBA could become one of the most important waterfowl refuges of northern India.

Key contributors: M. A. Parsa and M. R. Dar.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mirgund Jheel and Reserve (India). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mirgund-jheel-and-reserve-iba-india on 22/11/2024.