| Kashmir wetlands owing to its geographical location and the key role they play in the climate of this hilly state are extremely important. In fact the fresh water bodies of this basin ranging from ponds, lakes, springs, reservoirs, streams, rivers etc. are of vital importance because they not only provide portable water and fodder for the cattle but also safeguard the climate of this area. The Wetlands in south of Kashmir and especially in the saffron town of Pampore, where many satellite wetlands prevail, are regarded as fragile ecosystems protecting rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Among fauna, birds are considered as most exposed group of vertebrates that are used as trustworthy indicators of ecological health of an ecosystem. The present study was carried out at Manibugh wetland located at an altitude of 1,607 MASL spread on an area of 14 acres in the vicinity of the Government Degree College Pampore in Pulwama. The surveys were carried out in different time periods of the day during all the four seasons following the standard point count methodology with an objective of assessing its bird fauna which can serve as first-hand baseline data for assigning conservation value to this important bird habitat. The research was conducted during 2014 to 2017 where we recorded a total of (85) species of birds belonging to twenty five (25) families including fifteen (15) species of migratory waterfowl. The main contributors of birds belonged to the families of Anatidae (15,000), Rallidae (6000), Laridae (1000), Hirundinidae (600), Accipitridae (300), Podicipedidae (150), Ardeidae (110), Sturnidae (90), Motacillidae (45), Paridae (35), Muscicapidae (26), Scolopacidae (20), Passeridae (18), Alcedinidae (17), Phalacrocoracidae (13), Recurvirostridae (12), Upupidae (11), Columbidae (10), Picidae (8), Timallidae (7), Jacanidae (6), Phylloscopidae (5), Corvidae (5), Troglodytidae (4), Oriolidae (3) and so on. Although this wetland is located in a matrix of saffron fields but the degree of disturbance is less compared to the nearby protected area of Chatlam wetland. The peripheral areas on its south and west are now encroached by the local people for poultry farms and other human settlements but the core area of this wetland is intact and with least disturbance. Thus Manibugh wetland assume a great biodiversity of birds and aspects of ecological significance with long term conservation is imperative. |