A Field Study on Impact of Shrinking Wetlands on Winter Visitor and Resident Avifauna

By keeping eye on a shrinking micro wetland in Theri village in district Shri Muktsar Sahib of Punjab state (30^o12'N 74^o34'E) India , for three consecutive winters viz. 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19. Important Observations were made on shrinking micro wetland; and very shocking outcomes were noticed. In first phase of data collection during the winters of year2016-17 ,the avifauna diversity of winter visitor and resident birds was recorded 20 species ; which reduced to 12 species of winter birds during the winters of 2017-18; afterwards during the winters 218-19 the winter avifauna diversity recorded was only eight species . Only cause behind consecutive fall in winter avifauna diversity in given shrinking micro wetland was regular encroachment by local residents and anthropogenic activities . This is very disheartening to report that the in beginning of study water logging area of micro wetland was 23,130 sq.mt., and which reduced to 6,566 sq.mts. till winters of 2028-19. Present study directly correlates between destruction of habitats and fall of fauna diversity.