Avian Diversity of Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary, West Bengal

Lothian Island Wildlife Sanctuary is a small island in the Hugli-Thakuran Estuary in the Gangetic Delta of West Bengal. As a part of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, the sanctuary remains dominated by diverse mangroves and mangrove-associated plants. Faunal composition of this island also demands appreciation of which avian diversity came out to be fairly rich and was studied during the period, July - October, 2006. Of the 67 bird species recorded, 49 were found as residents that breed locally and 18 as winter visitors. Birds recorded were further categorized into waterbirds (25 species), water-dependent birds (7 species) and forest-dwelling ones (35 species). Such diverse assemblage of birds in such a small island is primarily due to the availability of varied food matter in its undisturbed forestlands and mudflats. As an important staging ground for wintering waders, the area at present remains nearly free from anthropogenic stress. A long-term survey of the entire island may possibly bring out further sightings and details of bird species residing and arriving there.