Habitat Response of Obligatory Grassland Birds In Irrigated and Rainfed Agricultural Landscapes of Solapur District, Maharashtra, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/jaz.v46i2.5122Keywords:
Ecology, biodiversity, Anthropogenic Pressure, avifauna, migratoryAbstract
The Indian subcontinent supports approximately 13% of the world's avian diversity, yet certain regions remain understudied, particularly the Deccan Peninsula. This region, characterized by extensive grassland and savanna ecosystems, encompasses 33% of the Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) and 31% of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) within the subcontinent. Among the key regions for grassland avifauna, the Solapur district is of significant ecological importance, particularly for the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) and other grassland-obligate bird species. However, increasing anthropogenic pressures—including intensive agricultural practices, shifts in cropping patterns, overgrazing, urban expansion, and infrastructure development—have contributed to extensive habitat degradation over recent decades. These transformations have negatively impacted grassland bird populations, particularly obligate species adapted to open landscapes. This study examined the habitat associations of obligate grassland bird species in response to rainfed and irrigated agricultural landscapes in the Solapur district. Findings indicate a positive correlation between obligate species and grassland or dryland agricultural cover, whereas irrigated agricultural areas and human settlements were associated with a decline in these species. These results highlight the critical need for systematic, long-term ecological studies to inform conservation management strategies and policy interventions aimed at preserving grassland-specialist bird species within this rapidly transforming landscape.
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