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Avifaunal diversity of Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary,

Odisha, India
Sunit K. Das, Debi P. Sahoo, Nibedita Dash & Hemanta K. Sahu
Das, K. S., Sahoo, P. D., Dash, N., & Sahu, H. K., 2013. Avifaunal diversity of Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha, India. Indian BIRDS 8 (4): 90–92.
Sunit K. Das*, Debi P. Sahoo, Nibedita Dash & Hemanta K Sahu: P.G. Department of Wildlife and Conservation Biology, North Orissa University, Sri
Ramchandra Vihar, Takatpur, Baripada 757003, Orissa. *Email: [email protected]
Manuscript received on 10 November 2010.

Introduction India harbors 1200 species of birds, which is 13% of the total
The Eastern Ghats is a major biodiversity area running parallel bird species of the world (Ali & Ripley 1983). The avifauna of
to the Bay of Bengal on India’s east coast. Comprising a Odisha is diverse and 473 bird species belonging to 59 families
discontinuous range of mountains, they extend from West Bengal have been recorded here (Mishra et al. 1996). The avifauna of
in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south, passing through the the state has been mainly studied by Mukherjee (1952), Ripley
states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and some parts of Karnataka. (1979), Abdulali (1984), Sahu & Kar (1999), Sahu & Rout
In Odisha (=Orissa), the range constitutes the principal mountain (2005), Gopi & Pandav (2007), and Das et al. (2010). But the
system extending over 1.5 lakh km2, which is merely 4.25% of the avian diversity of the sanctuary is still unknown, as no scientific
total landmass of the state. Fourteen protected areas fall within studies on birds have so far been conducted, except passing
this percentage, among which the Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary references to common birds, in the sanctuary’s management
(20°31’–20°45’N, 84°43’E–85°05’E), considered the gateway plans. This study was carried out to prepare a checklist with basic
of Eastern Ghats (Sahoo & Das 2010), is a major Protected Area. information on the species of the sanctuary and frequency of
The sanctuary spreads over Nayagarh and Boudh districts with an their occurrence with residential status.
area of 163 km2. It is contiguous with the Satkosia Gorge Wildlife
Sanctuary and forms the Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The vegetation Methodology
here is characteristic of Mahanadian hilly sal forest and falls Observations on the avian diversity of Baisipalli WLS were carried
under the Mahanadian Biogeographic region of Orissa (Sahoo out from January–July 2010. During the study, the presence of
2010). It largely comprises northern tropical moist deciduous, different species of birds was ascertained by direct sightings,
dry deciduous, and moist peninsular low-level sal forests. The their calls (for some species), and interviews with local forest
dominant trees are ‘sal’ Shorea robusta, ‘bija’ Pterocarpus staff, villagers and hunters belonging to local communities in
marsupium, teak Tectona grandis, ‘kusum’ Schleichera trijuga, and around the PA. Regular surveys were conducted by adopting
‘saja’ Terminalia tomentosa, ‘bael’ Aegle marmelos, ‘tendu’ the line-transect method (Burnham et al.1980) throughout the
Diospyros melanoxylon, and ‘palas’ Butea monosperma, with study area. Birds were mostly observed during the active hours
bamboo patches, a number of shrubs, herbs and climber species. of the day; from 0600 to 1000 hrs and from 1600 to 1800
 Das et al.: Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary 91

hrs. Spot identification and information on their residential status, It is a rare species and published literature revealed that the
basic food habits etc., is based on Grimmett et al. (1999), and species has only been recorded from Baisipalli in Odisha (Sahu
Kazmierczak et al. (2000). The checklist was prepared using the & Palei 2012).
standardised common and scientific names listed in Manakadan Local communities in the surrounding areas depend heavily
& Pittie (2001). on the sanctuary for various resources. During this survey various
disturbances, including poaching of birds, were observed. Species
like the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus, Red Junglefowl Gallus
Results & discussion
gallus, and Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis are trapped
A list of avifauna recorded from Baisipalli WLS along with frequency and
by locals as bushmeat. The Hill Myna Gracula religiosa and
status is reported in Table1. The study reveals the occurrence of 157
species of birds in 56 families. According to the frequency of sightings, parakeets are trapped for the pet trade. Unsustainable methods
69 (43.94%) species were common, 63 (40.12%) were uncommon of harvesting fish and other natural resources create additional
and 25 (15.92%) species were rare. While 135 (85.98%) species were threats to the sanctuary. Use of lethal materials for fishing was
considered to be resident and 22 (14.01%) species were migratory. The noticed in many parts around the sanctuary, which can adversely
Green Avadavat Amandava formosa is listed in ‘Threatened Birds of the affect waterbirds and direct effect includes death due to lower
World’ (BirdLife International 2001). It is a globally threatened species, quality of health of birds, reducing their ability to reproduce
listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and in Appendix II of CITES. effectively or surviving rough conditions. Toxic materials have
On 12 February 2010, three individuals were sighted. Among raptors,
the ability to destroy microorganisms (phytoplankton and
a Greater Grey Headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus, a Near
Threatened species according to the Red List, (BirdLife International 2001) zooplankton) and directly affect the food chain. People start
was sighted on 27 March 2010 in the northern side of the sanctuary near forest fires for collection of ‘mahul’ flower Madhuca indica and
the Mahanadi River. Inside the sanctuary, the raptor diversity stands at shifting cultivation, which degrades bird habitat rapidly. Such fires
17 (10.9%) species, indicating habitat richness of the area, as raptors are a major threat, and should be checked and controlled by
are considered to be indicators of healthy forest ecosystems (Das et al. adopting strict fire protection measures. Alternative livelihood
2011). We recorded a pair of Black Storks Ciconia nigra on 23 May opportunities need to be created to reduce dependency of locals
2010 in the central part of the sanctuary near a seasonal stream. on forest resources.

Table: 1: Checklist of Avifauna of Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha Table: 1: Checklist of Avifauna of Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Species Frequency of Status Species Frequency of Status
Occurrence Occurrence
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis C R Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia C R
Little cormorant Phalacrocorax niger C R European Turtle-Dove Streptopelia turtur C R
Indian Shag P. fuscicollis C R Oriental Turtle-Dove S. orientalis UC R
Little Egret Egretta garzetta C R Spotted Dove S. chinensis C R
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea UC R Eurasian Collared-Dove S. decaocto C R
Large Egret Casmerodius albus UC R Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica UC R
Median Egret Mesophoyx intermedia C R Yellow-legged Green-Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera UC R
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis C R Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula aenea RA R
Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii C R Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria C R
Chestnut Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus UC R Rose-ringed Parakeet P. krameri C R
Asian Openbill-Stork Anastomus oscitans UC R Plum headed Parakeet P. cyanocephala C R
Black Stork Ciconia nigra RA M Pied Crested Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus RA M
Oriental Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus UC R Brainfever Bird Hierococcyx varius UC R
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus C R Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus UC R
Black Kite Milvus migrans C R Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea UC R
Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus RA R Sirkeer Malkoha Phaenicophaeus leschenaultii UC R
Greater Grey-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus NT RA R Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis C R
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela C R Barn Owl Tyto alba UC R
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus RA M Collared Scops-Owl Otus bakkamoena RA R
Shikra Accipiter badius C R Brown Fish-Owl Ketupa zeylonensis UC R
White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa UC R Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum C R
Osprey Pandion haliaetus RA M Spotted Owlet Athene brama C R
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus UC M Indian Jungle Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus C R
Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus RA R Large-tailed Nightjar C. macrurus RA R
Jungle Bush –Quail Perdicula asiatica UC R Common Indian Nightjar C. asiaticus UC R
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus C R Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis C R
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus C R House Swift Apus affinis C R
Small Buttonquail Turnix sylvatica UC R Crested Tree-Swift Hemiprocne coronata RA R
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus C R Malabar Trogon Harpectes fasciatus UC R
Purple Moorhen Porphyrio porphyrio UC R Small Blue Kingfisher Alcedo atthis UC R
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus C R White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis C R
Common Coot Fulica atra UC M Small Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis C R
Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus UC R Blue-tailed Bee-eater M. philippinus RA M
Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidus indicus RA R Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis C R
River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii RA M Common Hoopoe Upupa epops C R
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius RA R Indian Grey Hornbill Ocyceros birostris UC R
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus C R Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica C R
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos UC M Coppersmith Barbet M. haemacephala C R
Stone-Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus UC R Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos nanus RA R
River Tern Sterna aurantia UC R Lesser Golden-backed Woodpecker Dinopium benghalense UC R
92 Indian Birds Vol. 8 No. 4 (Publ. 26 July 2013)

Table: 1: Checklist of Avifauna of Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha Table: 1: Checklist of Avifauna of Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha
Species Frequency of Status Species Frequency of Status
Occurrence Occurrence
Greater Golden-backed Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes lucidus UC R Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita C M
Heart-spotted Woodpecker Hemicircus canente RA R Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla UC M
Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura RA R Tickell`s Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae UC R
Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix grisea UC R Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa daurica UC M
Eastern Skylark Alauda gulgula UC M Black–naped Monarch-Flycatcher Hypothymis azurea UC R
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus UC M White-Throated Fantail- Flycatcher Rhipidura abicollis C R
White Wagtail Motacilla alba C M White-browed Fantail-Flycatcher R. aureola C R
Large Pied Wagtail M. maderaspatensis UC R Great tit Parus major C R
Yellow Wagtail M. flava UC M Black-lored Yellow Tit P. xanthogenys RA R
Grey Wagtail M. cinerea UC M Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea UC R
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus C R Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile C R
Eurasian Tree Pipit A. trivialis RA M Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica C R
Large Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina macei UC R Purple Sunbird N. asiatica C R
Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike C. melanoptera C R Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus UC R
Rosy Minivet Pericrocotus roseus C R Red Munia Amandava amandava UC R
Small Minivet P. cinnamomeus C R Green Munia A. formosa VU RA R
Scarlet Minivet P. flammeus C R White-throated Munia Lonchura malabarica UC R
Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis UC R Spotted Munia L. punctulata C R
Common Woodshrike T. pondicerianus C R Black-headed Munia L. malacca C R
Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus C R House Sparrow Passer domesticus C R
Red-vented Bulbul P. cafer C R Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus UC R
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia UC R Grey-headed Starling Sturnus malabaricus UC R
Gold-fronted Chloropsis Chloropsis aurifrons RA R Brahminy Starling S. pagodarum C R
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus C M Asian Pied Starling S. contra C R
Bay-backed Shrike L. vittatus UC R Common Myna Acridotheres tristis C R
Rufous-backed Shrike L. schach UC M Bank Myna A. ginginianus UC R
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius UC M Jungle Myna A. fuscus RA R
Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina UC R Hill Myna Gracula religiosa RA R
Oriental Magpie- Robin Copsychus saularis C R Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo UC R
White-rumped Shama C. malabaricus UC R Black–naped Oriole O. chinensis C R
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros UC M Black-headed Oriole O. xanthornus C R
Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata C R Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus C R
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata C R White-bellied Drongo D. caerulescens UC R
Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus C R Greater Racket-tailed Drongo D. paradiseus UC R
Jungle Babbler T. striatus C R Indian Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda C R
Streaked Fantail-Warbler Cisticola juncidis UC R House Crow Corvus splendens C R
Franklin’s Prinia Prinia hodgsonii UC R Jungle Crow C. macrorhynchos RA R
Ashy Prinia P. socialis UC R Frequency: C = Common, UC = Uncommon, RA= Rare; Residential Status:
Plain Prinia P. inornata C R
R= Resident, M= Migrant; NT= Near Threatened, VU= Vulnerable
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius C R

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