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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.

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.

MAIN THREATS: Cultivation of Water Chestnut; Irrigation; Agricultural expansion on the banks of the lake.

This IBA site is under severe threat due to human pressure. Water from the lake is routinely pumped out to neighbouring crop fields. This renders the waterbody dry for 3-4 months of the year. Immediately after the monsoon, while breeding of most of the resident waterbirds is in progress, cultivation of Water Chestnut Trapa natans in most of the lake results in the deterioration of bird habitats. Due to intensification of this activity, though illegal since 2000, very little area remains available to wintering waterbirds. In 2001, counts of ducks were below 500 and waders barely exceeded a thousand individuals. Of the eight nests of Sarus Crane known in the lake, three failed in 2001 due to disturbance caused by people cultivating water chestnut. Large quantities of pesticides are also used. This important Sarus crane nesting area needs immediate protection.

Key contributor: K. S. Gopi Sundar.

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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 22/11/2024.