Birds of the University of Pune Campus
The University of Pune Campus
As I walked through the gate of the University of Pune one and a half years ago I did not know that this was the start of a bond that was to last a lifetime. My first impression of this place was very similar to that of a parched wanderer in the Sahara when he spots an oasis. Since childhood I have always had a fascination for Nature.
Twenty years in Bombay had not provided me an opportunity to be in close proximity with nature, but this place presented me that and not for a day or two, but for two years. This University, provided me with an excellent opportunity for pursuing my interest in birds.
The University of Pune, in addition to being a highly esteemed educational institution is also famed for its variety of ecosystems spread over an area of about four hundred acres.
University campus has the largest cultivation of Dalbergia, open drylands, scrublands, few evergreen patches, agricultural farmlands and small waterbodies. All these together form a very fascinating combination of ecosystems.
Seasonal changes are very well noticed here. The tiny green leaves of Dalbergia melanoxylem and green carpets on the ground dissappear soon after monsoon. Cold breeze sweeps away the greenery, but soon the warmth of the spring sprinkles pink and red colours on the Glyricidia and Silk Cotton trees. In March a brilliant yellow appears on the Cassias. Small dark red Ficus fruits attract not only the eyes of the passerby but also a variety of birds.
This campus locally known as Ganeshkhind lies at 18 degrees 34' North latitude and 73 degrees 53' East longitude. It has a mean elevation of about 575 metres above sea level.
The total area of the campus is 6,50,000 square metres out of which 1,16,619.8 square metres is used for construction. Average maximum temperature of this place over the last two years has been 30 to 35 degrees Celsius and the average minimum temperature is 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. Absolute minimum and maximum temperatures were 2.7 and 40.3 degrees celsius respectively, over the last two years. This place receives average annual rainfall of 900 to 1000 mm usually over four months in a year, from June to October. But sometimes most of the rainfall is received over a week's period in July-September.
Observations
My observations cover a period of one and half years, July 1993-December 1994. The observations were made at least once a week. The birds were identified by plumage, through binoculars following The Book Of Indian Birds and The Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent.
The checklist (List 1) contains seventy six species of birds. When this list was compared with the checklist made by Dr. Goel in 1974, 22 species of birds were present in that list that were not sighted by me (List 3). Other birdwatchers like Yogesh Wadadekar and Ramana Athreya have either sighted these birds or heard their calls, but this need further verification.
This campus provides shelter for variety of birds. Some are migratory but most of them are residential. Although the distribution is more or less uniform there are patches like University Park, old swimming pool, nursery and Botany garden which have a higher density of birds than other places in the campus. Paradise Flycatcher, Hornbill and some waterbirds are the major attractions of University Park. Near old swimming pool too, many birds can be seen.
Birds like Pheasant-tailed Jacana are not seen on the campus anymore. There is only one waterbody left on campus and that is the old swimming pool. Even this place is now highly disturbed. The small lotus pond in the University park dries up soon after the monsoons. Khadki pond which was an ideal place for such birds was drained and converted into plantation. The forested area is being drastically reduced. University park which is good bird habitat, is also highly disturbed as it has become a favoured picnic spot.
These observations provide just qualitative data. Due to insufficient time, quantitative studies could not be undertaken. However I hope that this work would be helpful for amateur birdwatchers and future detailed studies.
Acknowledgements
I am obliged to Dr. Jagadale and his wife, Neelam for their encouragement and helpful suggestions. To Dr. Ajit Kembhavi for his valuable comments and suggestions.
I am indebted to Dr. Gadgil of the Geography Department and the people at the Estate Office for providing me with the necessary information regarding the University campus.
There are no words to convey my thanks to all my friends and classmates.
Key
| C | Common |
| O | Occasional |
| S | Stray |
| M | Migratory |
- Family : Accipitridae
Whitebacked Vulture Gyps benghalensis Pariah Kite Milvus migrans Shikra Accipiter badius Blackwinged Kite Elanus caeruleus - Family : Rallidae
Whitebreasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Indian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - Family : Ardeidae
Pond Heron Ardeola greyii Night Heron Nycticorax nyctycorax Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Little Egret Egretta garzetta - Family : Phalacrocoracidae
Little Cormorant Phalacocorax niger - Family : Columbidae
Blue Rock Pigeon Columba livia Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Little Brown Dove Streptopelia senegalensis - Family : Charadriidae
Redwattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola - Family : Cuculidae
Pied Crested Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus Indian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea Crow Pheasant Centropus sinensis - Family : Psittacidae
Roseringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri - Family : Apodidae
Palm Swift Cypsiurus sinensis House Swift Apus affinis - Family : Alcedinidae
Whitebreasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Small Blue Kingfisher Alcedo althis - Family: Capitonidae
Coppersmith Megalaima haemocephala muller - Family : Picidae
Mahratta Woodpecker Picoides mahrattensis - Family : Hirundinidae
Crag Martin Hirundo rupestris Dusky Crag Martin Hirundo concolar Common Swallow Hirundo rustica Redrumped Swallow Hirundo daurica - Family : Laniidae
Rufousbacked Shrike Lanius schach - Family : Oriolidae
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus - Family : Sturnidae
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Brahmini Myna Sternus pagodarum - Family : Campephagidae
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus - Family : Irenidae
Iora Aegithina tiphia - Family : Picnonotidae
Redvented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer - Family : Muscicapidae
Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus Redbreasted Flycatcher Muscicapa parva Whitebrowed Fantail Flycatcher Rhipidura auriola Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Muscicappa tickelliae Ashy Wren Warbler Prinia socialis Indian Wren Warbler Prinia subflava Streaked Fantail Warbler Cisticola juncidis Magpie Robin Copsicus saularis Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata Tailor Bird Orthotomus sutorius - Family : Paridae
Grey Tit Parus major Yellowcheeked Tit Parus xanthogenys - Family : Nectarinidae
Purplerumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica Purple Sunbird Nectarinia asiatica - Family : Zosteropidae
White Eye Zosterops palpebrosa - Family : Ploecidae
Red Munia Estrilda amandara Spotted Munia Loncura punctulata Whitethroated Munia Loncura malabarica Baya Weaver Bird Ploceus phillipinus House Sparrow Passer domesticus - Family : Mottacillidae
Grey Wagtail Motacilla caspica Large Pied Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis White Wagtail Motacilla alba Yellowheaded Wagtail Motacilla citreola - Family : Meropidae
Small Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis - Family : Upupidae
Hoopoe Upupa epops - Family : Bucerotidae
Grey Hornbill Tockus birostris - Family : Dicruridae
Black Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis - Family : Corvicidae
Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhyncos House Crow Corvus splendens - Family : Strigidae
Spotted Owlet Athene brama - Family : Coraciidae
Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis - Family : Turdinae
Black Redstart Phoenicurus orchruros - Family : Artamidae
Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata - Family : Phasianidae
Domestic Fowl Gallus domesticus
List 2: Birds sighted by other birdwatchers
- Rosy Pastor
- Alexandrine Parakeet
- Booted Hawk Eagle
- Short-toed Eagle
- Eastern Steppe Eagle
- Small Indian Pratincole
- Cliff Swallow
- Drongo Cuckoo
- Tickell's Flowerpecker
- Grey Drongo
- Mottled Wood Owl
- Booted Tree Warbler
- Blackheaded Cuckoo-shrike
- Common Indian Nightjar
- Blackbellied Finch Lark
- Baybacked Shrike
- Common Hawk Cuckoo
- Plaintive Cuckoo
- Common Wood Shrike
- Large Cuckoo-shrike
- Wire Tailed Swallow
List 3: Bird's noted on Dr. Goel's list and not on mine
- Indian Bustard Quail
- Pheasant Tailed Jacana
- Yellow-wattled Lapwing
- Fantail Snipe
- Painted Snipe
- Redwinged Bush Lark
- Blackbellied Finch Lark
- Baybacked Shrike
- Blossomheaded Parakeet
- Hawk Cuckoo
- Plaintive Cuckoo
- Wood Shrike
- Large Cuckoo-shrike
- Redwhiskered Bulbul
- Blue Rock Thrush
- Paddy Field Pipit
- Wiretailed Swallow
- Rose Finch
- Little Grebe
- Kestrel
- Greenshank
- Green Pigeon
References
- Ali, S. 1979. The Book Of Indian Birds, B.N.H.S., Bombay.
- Ali, S. and Dillon Ripley, S., Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Compact Volume. 1983. Oxford University Press, Bombay, India.
- Ali, S. and Dillon Ripley, S., The Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. B.N.H.S., Bombay, India.
- Dr. Humayun Abdulali, Checklist of the Birds of Maharashtra.
- Goel Dr. Suresh, 1976, Birds of the Campus of Poona University, Journal of the University of Poona.