Data Zone
Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: Since the creation of a barrage on the river in 1986, and the resultant waterbody, the bird life has shown tremendous increase. Urfi (2003) has compiled a list of 302 bird species from this site. An additional 27 species have been listed by Harris (2001) as probable. They need confirmation. During winter, between 14,000 to 20,000 waterbirds are recorded. This site qualifies in A4iii criteria (i.e. the site is known or thought to hold = 20,000 waterbirds). The total Okhla list includes two Critically Endangered species, nine Vulnerable species, seven Near Threatened species and one Conservation Dependent species. Some species, such as Baikal Teal Anas formosa, Greater Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus, and Bristled Grass-Warbler Chaetornis striatus have not been seen in recent years (see Urfi 2003, for more details). Among the resident birds listed in the Table, which are of great concern to us than vagrants, the Sarus Crane Grus antigone has declined all over India during the last two decades (BirdLife International 2001). Prior to 1992, pairs were sighted sporadically from the agricultural fields and marshes outlying Okhla lake area. One such area has now been destroyed by a newly built motorway. Since then, there has been no sighting of Sarus from Okhla (Urfi 2003). The Indian Skimmer Rynchops albicollis that has declined all over its range (BirdLife International 2001), was found frequently in summer in the Yamuna river system in the mid 1970s (Ganguli 1975) but now it is a rare visitor to Okhla (Harris 2001), with flocks of up to seven sighted in August 1998, January 2001, and August 2001. The Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus has also not been sighted during the last 10 years. Urfi (2003) noted six birds in February 1990, but there has been no other recent record (Harris 2001). However, the Near Threatened Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus is still holding on. Up to five birds were seen in Okhla during 1989-1992 (Urfi 2003), and three birds in September 1990 (Harris 2001). Records of nest-building activity by the Vulnerable Yellow Weaver or Finn’s Baya Ploceus megarhynchus has been a topic of discussion. It is a bird of the terai region of Uttar Pradesh and Assam (Ali and Ripley 1987, Grimmett et al. 1998). Rai (1979) has recorded it breeding in Hastinapur WLS (an IBA) in Meerut district. They could have come from there. There has been no recent sighting from Okhla or other areas in the Yamuna. The Okhla barrage is an important feeding ground for the 300 to 500 Painted Storks Mycteria leucocephala that breed in Delhi Zoo (Urfi 1997, 2003). Several migratory species visit the river in large numbers in winter, with the commonest ducks being the Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata and Gadwall Anas strepera. The Northern Pintail Anas acuta and Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea are also common. Other common species include the Common Teal Anas crecca, Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Greylag Goose Anser anser and Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus. The resident Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha is abundant. The Garganey Anas querquedula is a fairly scarce passage migrant, along with the Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, Comb Duck Sarkiodiomis melanotos, and Indian Cotton Teal or Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus. The Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina and Mallard Anas platyrhynchos occur in small numbers. Other species that have occasionally been seen in the area include the Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis, Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans, White-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus, Large Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor and Ruff Philomachus pugnax. The very rare Bristled Grass-Warbler or Grasssbird Chaetornis striatus has also been sighted here (Grewal 1996). Yet, the area where the Bristled Grass-Warbler was found has been destroyed by the NOIDA toll bridge. In November 2000, more than 450 Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber were observed and there have been sightings of large flocks of flamingos throughout. Okhla has been identified as an IBA in view of its bird life and the presence of globally threatened species such as the Sarus Crane, Bristled Grass-Warbler, Greater Spotted Eagle, and Indian Skimmer. The non-sanctuary area on the Delhi side has also been assigned IBA status on the basis of IBA criteria A1, A3 and A4i.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: There are no large or small mammals of conservation concern. On the Delhi side, the Sanctuary is surrounded by a bustling market and residential area, while on the Uttar Pradesh side, sometimes a few Golden Jackals Canis aureus and an occasional Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus are seen. Not much is known about the reptile, amphibian and fish fauna.
Okhla Wildlife Sanctuary has great potential to attract national and international birdwatchers. Its greatest advantage is its easy accessibility and congregation of waterfowl. However, the Sanctuary is not protected properly. Pollution and solid-waste is the biggest problem of Okhla wetland. Cleaning the area and protecting the marshes would prove useful for wildlife, but also for the nearly 1 million humans who rely on the River Jamuna for their water requirements (Urfi 1993). On the northeastern boundary, a Hanuman Temple is coming up during the last few years, and recently on the eastern boundary, an ashram is also gradually encroaching on the Sanctuary land. These are illegal constructions and pose a threat to the bird habitat in the Sanctuary. Due to heavy siltation, some parts of the Okhla Barrage have become considerably shallower and this has permitted the growth of reeds, particularly at the junction of the weir and the left influx bund and also in the areas between the spurs (Urfi 2003). In what ways these changes in the water depth will affect the bird communities remains to be seen. Due to rapid urbanization all around, the Okhla Bird Sanctuary is becoming an island. The wintering ducks at Okhla are dependent upon the surrounding areas, especially the grassy patches, crop fields and marshes around the barrage for feeding. As more and more areas around the barrage are being built up, these habitats are disappearing, and so it is important to develop a buffer zone around the Sanctuary (Urfi 2003).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Okhla Bird Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/okhla-bird-sanctuary-iba-india on 22/11/2024.