Methodology for Remote Sensing of Waterbird Habitats in an Inland Wetland

Waterbird (Waterfowl) habitats in wetlands are deteriorating due to variety of human activities threatening the survival of waterfowl. Sound management of such habitats is possible ifinformation regarding them is available. Satellite remote sensing can be very useful in providing such information through delineation, mapping and inventorying of habitats. The methodology developed for delineation, mapping and inventorying waterbird habitats in an inland wetland viz. Nal Sarovar (Gujarat State) has been discussed in the present paper. Suitability and limitations of important aspects of the methodology adopted for preparing 'Habitat Distribution Maps' are also revealed and discussed. Mid-winter season (January/February) data of Landsat (MSSITM) and IRS LISS II has been found very appropriate for studying waterbird habitats. Classification system up to level III has been developed. IRS LISS II FCC has been found to be more effective in distinguishing habitat of emergent aquatic vegetation from the nearby terrestrial herbaceous cover during early post-monsoon period. Mapping scale of 1: 50,000 was found appropriate with respect to the resolution of the Landsat (MSS/ TM) and IRS LISS II images employed in the study. Accuracy of the 'Habitat Distribution Maps' was tested on the sample basis assuming a binomial distribution for the probability of success/failure of sample points. It was found to be 92 per cent at 90 per cent confidence level.