Transitioning Wintering Shorebirds to Agroecosystem: A Thorough Evaluation of Habitat Selection and Conservation Concern

• Published in: Diversity
• Main Authors: H. Byju, K. A. Rubeena, C. T. Shifa, T. R. Athira, K. Jishnu, Jagdeep Singh, Asha Sohil, Sonika Kushwah, Akhilesh Kumar, Jasmine Anand, K. M. Rajaneesh, Seerangan Manokaran, Durga Rao Gijjappu, Omer R. Reshi, Orus Ilyas, Neeraj Sharma, K. K. Junaina, N. Raveendran, T. M. V. Mumthaz, M. Nasser, Sabir Bin Muzaffar, Aymen Nefla, Syed Masiur Rahman, K. M. Aarif
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2023
• Subjects: agriculture; artificial wetlands; foraging; waterbird; natural wetlands; migratory birds; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Indian; Eurasian Curlew
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010023; https://doaj.org/article/3ac188cd71164f2a8ef9e0f54f7f1088

Habitat fragmentation and degradation in natural wetlands has resulted in declines in the populations of shorebirds in the Indian subcontinent. Shorebirds rely on these wetlands as wintering or stop-over sites along the southern extent of the Central Asian Flyway. Shorebirds are known to utilize agroecosystems as alternate foraging habitats. The suitability of agroecosystems as foraging areas for overwintering migratory shorebirds has not been well studied in the Indian subcontinent. We conducted a comprehensive assessment of published literature and compiled field observations to investigate the importance of inland and coastal agroecosystems for shorebirds in India. We assessed the shorebird populations at natural wetlands: mudflats and mangroves of Kadalundi Vallikkunnu Community Reserve (KVCR) and Puthuvypu sand beach, as well as adjacent agroecosystems on the west coast of India, including Sanketham Wetlands, Manthalakkadavu, Vazhakkad, Elamaram, Kodinhi, and Kooriyad. On the east coast, we assessed the natural wetland habitats of Valinokkam, Point Calimere, and Pichavaram and evaluated inland agroecosystems in regions, such as Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Fifty-three shorebird species utilize diverse agroecosystems from various parts of India. While studies on the use of agroecosystems by shorebirds are limited on the east coast, evidence suggests that major wintering sites are adjacent to paddy fields, fostering substantial shorebird diversity. In Pichavaram, Point Calimere, and Gulf of Mannar regions, 22 shorebird species utilize agroecosystems, including the notable near-threatened Eurasian Curlew. Seventeen of these species are winter arrivals, highlighting the crucial role agroecosystems play as stopover areas. On the west coast, 19 shorebird species appear to utilize agroecosystems in Kooriyad, Manthalakkadavu, Vazhakkad, Sanketham Wetlands, Elamaram, and Kodinhi. Few species use agricultural fields in the north (Jammu and Kashmir). Paddy ...