Data Zone
Site description (2004 baseline):
AVIFAUNA: This site can boast of large congregations of Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis, Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata, Garganey A. querquedula, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Brown-headed Gulls Larus brunnicephalus and Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybridus. The thriving fishing industry sustains a large number of pelicans, as this is the nearest good source of food during the breeding season at Kokkarebellur (an IBA), which is situated 13 km northwest of the Lake. Over 200 Pelicans have been recorded feeding at this site on several occasions. The fisheries also support large numbers of Whiskered Terns, up to 1,500 in some years and Brown-headed Gulls, up to 500-600 in 1994-96 and up to 100 presently. The Northern Shoveller has always been the most abundant duck on the lake, with over 11,000 birds counted in January 2000, just above the 1% population threshold of 10,000 (Wetlands International 2002). Garganey sometimes congregate in enormous numbers prior to emigration in April, as this lake retains water when most other lakes in the region are dry. Between 18,000 - 21,000 birds have been recorded in several years, nearly ten times the threshold limit of 2,500. The site is a regular wintering ground for over 5,000 Black-tailed Godwit, five times the threshold of 1,000 (Wetlands International 2002).
OTHER KEY FAUNA: Not known.
The sugar factory located in Mandya town discharges molasses and other effluents after dilution, into this lake. This has encouraged a luxuriant growth of Typha and Water Hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes around the lake that periodically reaches weed proportions when water levels are low.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sulekere Lake (India). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sulekere-lake-iba-india on 23/11/2024.