Habitat Utilization by the Piscivorous Birds in Thol Bird Sanctuary

In the present study, habitat use by bird species at Thol bird sanctuary was recorded on each visit. These categories were – open water, puddles and peripheral region. The activities were categorized as foraging, resting, roosting and breeding. Open water habitat over other categories was used highly by waterfowl like all ducks, storks, herons, egrets, spoonbills, ibises and many waders. Use of edge and puddles by nearly half the species was in accordance with a high diversity of small waders at Thol bird sanctuary, which used this habitat extensively for foraging and roosting. Out of 77 sp. listed (Thol Report – 2002), majority of species used Thol bird sanctuary for foraging and resting (82 % and 75 %) In contrast, only 56 % species used it for roosting. There were some species like egrets, spoonbills, cormorants with confirmed breeding record of Thol bird sanctuary.