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VOL. 6, ISSUE 4 (2021)
Avifaunal diversity and conservation in the semi-arid landscapes of Dharashiv District, Maharashtra, India: A critical review of species records, habitat change and research priorities
Authors
Dr. Surwase Sanjay Sukhdeo
Abstract
Dharashiv District
(formerly Osmanabad), in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, occupies a
semi-arid part of the Deccan Plateau where agricultural fields, open scrub,
grasslands, rocky terrain, settlements and artificial or natural wetlands form
a heterogeneous landscape. Birds use these habitats for feeding, breeding,
roosting and seasonal movement, making avifaunal records valuable for
understanding ecological change in a heavily used dryland region. The principal
district-level baseline identified for this review is the survey by Narwade and
Fartade (2011) [6], which documented 165 species during surveys
conducted from March 2007 to July 2008 across Yedshi grassland, Terna Lake and
the Masla area. The authors recorded resident, locally migratory and migratory
species and described habitat-specific and seasonal variation, while also
raising concerns about changing aquatic landscapes. A later study of the
south-western Deccan Plateau, including the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary
landscape in neighbouring Solapur, provides a broader regional comparison and
illustrates the conservation importance of open habitats (Narwade &
Rahmani, 2020) [5]. This review synthesizes the available district
and regional evidence, evaluates the ecological roles and pressures affecting
the main habitat types, and proposes a reproducible monitoring framework. It
identifies a key limitation: the 2011 checklist is a historical baseline, not a
current estimate of richness, abundance or conservation status. Updated,
seasonally balanced surveys, transparent checklist validation, habitat mapping,
and integration of field observations with carefully screened citizen-science
records are required to assess change. Conservation planning should retain the
ecological value of open natural habitats, improve wetland management, reduce
disturbance at breeding and roosting sites, and coordinate biodiversity
monitoring with agricultural and infrastructure planning.
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Pages:40-44
How to cite this article:
Dr. Surwase Sanjay Sukhdeo "Avifaunal diversity and conservation in the semi-arid landscapes of Dharashiv District, Maharashtra, India: A critical review of species records, habitat change and research priorities". International Journal of Biology Research, Vol 6, Issue 4, 2021, Pages 40-44
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