| 1 | Avian diversity in and around mangroves of Mahul Creek, Mumbai, India The study carried out during July 2001-May 2002 at Mahul Creek, Maharashtra, India was aimed to examine the avian diversity in and around the mangrove forest. The avian community structure and concomitant population fluctuations were determined by weekly absolute counts of birds along the fixed transect. The area supported a fairly large number ot migratory birds during winter. The maximum bird species diversity was recorded during winter (H'=4.06) and minimum during summer (H'=2.97). A total of 134 species of birds, belonging to 14 orders and 37 families were recorded. Of the total bird species, 36% bird species were long distant migrants from as far as Arctic Circle and rest of the avifauna consisted of resident bird species (28%), local migrants (24%) and resident migrants (11%). Shore birds, bulbuls, starlings, shrikes and warblers formed the bulk of the population. Globally threatened birds as Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle, White-backed Vulture, Oriental White Ibis and Lesser Flamingo were also recorded. The mangrove forest showed the highest bird species richness (0=29.9) but had low species diversity (H'=2.87). Rainfall, tidal water availability, fruiting seasonality, chemical pollution and anthropogenic activities like salt works and woodcutting affected the bird population. Source: Verma, A.; Chaturvedi, N.; Balachandran, S.; Kehimkar, I. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Creeks, Estuaries and Mangroves - Pollution and Conservation, 28th to 30th November, 2002, Thane. Quadros, G. ed. 2002; 266-275. 1236.
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