Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: This lake is important for resident and migratory waterfowl. More than 200 species have been identified (Rahmani, 1992). Large waterbirds started nesting here in 1980 and there is now a mixed heronry of Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, many species of egrets and cormorants, and Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia.Other resident species include Purple Moorhen or Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio, Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus and Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus. The lake is important for Anatidae and Coot Fulica atra. Nawabganj also has a number of raptors such as Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, and Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus. The Sanctuary was known for its great congregations of water birds during the winter months. With good management, the bird number could be restored, therefore it has been designated as an IBA. Two to three pairs of Sarus Grus antigone breed in the Sanctuary. During Sarus count in 1999 (Choudhury et al. 1999), a pair with a juvenile was seen inside the Sanctuary, and two pairs and one juvenile were seen in the surrounding fields. A pair of Blacknecked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus is also seen, sometimes with juveniles, but its nest has not been discovered. Other Near Threatened species are listed in the table.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: With protection and afforestation, Jungle Cat Felis chaus and Golden Jackal Canis aureus have appeared, along with the Bluebul Boselaphus tragocamelus. Spotted Deer Axis axis has been introduced to enhance the tourism value of the Sanctuary.
This wetland has been listed by Samant (2000) as a priority (high priority) wetland, that is wetlands with high ecological and socio-economic potential, but with poor data availability. Illegal trade in turtle and some bird species like parakeets and munias has been reported. These find their way to the Unnao bird market. Pollution from adjoining industries drains into the lake due to its topographical disadvantage. The lake is also heavily infested with weeds such as Eichornia crassipes choking the waterways, resulting in decrease in dissolved oxygen levels, crucial for the survival of aquatic plant and animal life. In the last five years (1993-1998) 23 illegal cases of hunting have been reported and only seven led to prosecution. It is important to restore Nawabganj WLS to its former habitat status i.e. open sheet of water, through the removal of excessive trees from the surrounding areas, allowing summer grazing of livestock, perhaps on rotational basis, and regular removal of Water Hyacinth.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/nawabganj-bird-sanctuary-iba-india on 04/12/2024.