Village ponds as unexplored habitation sites for resident migratory and migratory bird species in Punjab state, India

Village ponds are recognized as integral constituents of agricultural landscape throughout the world. Objective of the present study was to assess the abundance, diversity and composition of avian fauna inhabiting village ponds in winter season. Line/ point transect methods were followed to record bird data at three selected locations in Punjab State from November 2019 to February 2020. Overall, 59 species of birds including 45 resident, 11 resident migratory and 3 migratory species belonging to 15 orders and 30 families were recorded. Order Passeriformes was most represented in both abundance and species richness. Study revealed six feeding guilds of birds; out of these carnivores (20 species) were most abundant followed by omnivores (19 species) and insectivores (13 species). Three species of winter migratory namely Motacilla cinerea, Calidris minuta and Spatula clypeata were recorded foraging in mixed species flocks. The six resident migratory species were water dependent in nature with three species each of omnivores and carnivores guilds. At present, significance of avian diversity of village ponds is often overlooked therefore, their potential as bird habitats of both resident and migratory must be documented, protected, and restored in Punjab State.