Seven endangered bird species found in Kalesar National Park

A short field survey conducted at Kalesar National Park in Yamunanagar district has recorded the presence of seven threatened bird species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) Schedule-I and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES Appendices I and III).

Additionally, the survey found 12 threatened bird species in Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, listed under WPA Schedule-I, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and CITES Appendices I, II, and III.

The survey was carried out in March 2025 by ecologist and ornithologist TK Roy, State Coordinator (Delhi) of the Asian Waterbird Census (AWC), Wetlands International South Asia. It was undertaken on the directions of Haryana’s Chief Wildlife Warden, Dr Vivek Saxena, for updating the species diversity database for conservation purposes.

TK Roy said, “In the survey, Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) (Schedule-I species), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) globally threatened endangered, near-threatened (NT) species and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices I, II, III were found.”

Among the threatened species recorded were the Common Greenshank (winter migratory, WPA Schedule-I species), River Lapwing (Indian bird, IUCN Near Threatened species), Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (summer migratory, WPA Schedule-I species), Crested Serpent Eagle (WPA Schedule-I species), Oriental Pied Hornbill (WPA Schedule-I and CITES Appendices II species), Changeable Hawk Eagle (WPA Schedule-I species), Shikra (Indian resident, WPA Schedule-I species), Eurasian Griffon (WPA Schedule-I species), and Egyptian Vulture (WPA Schedule-I and IUCN Endangered species).

Other notable species included the Indian Peafowl (the national bird, WPA Schedule-I and CITES Appendices III species) and the Rose-ringed Parakeet (CITES Appendices I species).

“In this short field survey, a total of 42 bird species were recorded in Kalesar National Park. Out of them, 31 are resident species and 11 migratory species. Similarly, 61 bird species were recorded in Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary, out of which 20 are resident species and 18 migratory species," said ornithologist TK Roy.

He further emphasised, “Kalesar National Park and Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary are natural habitats for biodiversity, especially with large species diversity of birdlife. It requires updating the species status every year for conservation, while globally, biodiversity — particularly bird species diversity and population — is decreasing as per IUCN global status.”

Haryana Tribune