Data Zone
Country/territory: India
IBA criteria met: A1, A4iii (2004)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 690 hectares (6.90 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2003 | not assessed | very high | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2004 baseline)
Sarsai Nawar is a natural depression which fills up during the monsoon. A very old Shiva temple adjoins the lake and is visited by thousands of pilgrims each year, particularly during Shivaratri festival in the first week of March. The importance of the lake lies in the fact that it is the roosting area of the largest flock of Sarus Crane Grus antigone in the region, consisting of nearly 400 individuals. The name of the lake is derived from the Sarus (Sarsai from Sarus, and Nawar meaning shallow wetland; Wetland for the Sarus). In addition, a vast number of waders, ducks and geese visit the lake in winter. Three resident species of storks, namely the Painted Mycteria leucocephala, Wooly-necked or White-necked Ciconia episcopus and Black-necked Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus feed in the lake throughout the year. The wetland is unusual in that the principal vegetation is Cyperus rotundus and there is no emergent vegetation. Other vegetation includes several species of grasses and water lilies.
Key biodiversity
AVIFAUNA: The site has been selected as an IBA on the basis of congregations of Sarus and waterfowl. In addition, eight breeding pairs of Sarus have made parts of this lake their territory. Between 1999-2002, these pairs raised 23 young, making this the most productive wetland known for Sarus Cranes (K. S. Gopi Sundar pers. comm. 2003). Two pairs of Black-necked Stork have adopted portions of the lake as part of their territory and raise young nearly every year. The wetland and surrounding trees used to have a resident population of over 150 Oriental White-backed Vultures Gyps bengalensis until 2000, when a drastic population decline was noted. Each year, a minimum of 6,000 ducks and geese, and 12,000 waders winter in the lake, the principal species being the Wigeon Anas penelope, Greylag Goose Anser anser, Northern Pintail Anas acuta, and Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia. Small numbers (<10) of the Eurasian Crane Grus grus winter in the lake for a month or so each year.
OTHER KEY FAUNA: The lake has a good population of the Flap-shell Turtle Lissemys punctata, and many families of the Common Mongoose Herpestes javanicus live immediately around the lake.
Acknowledgements
Key contributor: K. S. Gopi Sundar.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sarsai Nawar Lake (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sarsai-nawar-lake-iba-india on 23/12/2024.