Data Zone
Country/territory: India
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i, A4iii (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 309 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | favourable | high | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2004 baseline)
Sandi was declared as a Bird Sanctuary in 1990, with the sole purpose to restore this important waterfowl habitat. The Sanctuary is located in Bilgram tehsil of Hardoi district. The Sanctuary is formed of both private land and Gram Samaj (revenue) land. It was listed as an IBA on account of the presence of the globally threatened Sarus Crane Grus antigone. As far as we know, no scientific study on the flora of Sandi Wildlife Sanctuary has been conducted. Like all other tropical seasonal wetlands of the Gangetic plains, the aquatic plant life is very rich in submerged, floating and emergent vegetation. Thick stands of Typha on the fringes provide good breeding habitat for resident waterbirds.
Key biodiversity
AVIFAUNA: This IBA is home to a resident flock of around 200 Sarus Crane (Gopi Sundar pers. comm. 2003). It receives thousands of waterfowl in winter, primarily Brahminy Duck Tadorna ferruginea, Red-crested Pochard Rhodonessa rufina, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Northern Shoveller A. clypeata and Cotton Teal or Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus. Other resident water birds include Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus, Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans, Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala and Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus. Except for the records by amateur birdwatchers and Forest officials, no long-term study has been done here. This Sanctuary has been designated as an IBA on the basis of the presence of up to 200 Sarus in summer, globally threatened species (BirdLife International 2001. As very large numbers of waterfowl are seen, the site would also qualify A4i criteria (presence of =1% biogeographic population).
OTHER KEY FAUNA: This wetland is entirely surrounded by man-modified habitat (agriculture), so most wild large mammals have already disappeared. Except for Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus, which is a crop pest, there is no large ungulate in the area.
Acknowledgements
Key contributors: V. P. Singh and K. S. Gopi Sundar.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sandi Wildlife Sanctuary (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sandi-wildlife-sanctuary-iba-india on 22/11/2024.