Abstract

The Seshachalam hill is the first declared biosphere reserve in Andhra Pradesh and is located in the southern Eastern Ghats of Chittoor and Kadapa districts. The vegetation comprises of a unique mix of the tropical southern dry mixed deciduous type. The study was carried out from August 2011 to February 2014. The study recorded 215 species of birds, which belong to 45 families. Among which 172 species (80%) were resident, 30 (14%) winter migrant, 8 (4%) seasonal local migrant and 5 (2%) and local migrant. 88 species were found common (C); followed by 91 species uncommon (UC); 15 species rare (R); 14 species occasional (O) and 7 species were found very rare (VR). Passeriform birds are the dominating order of birds, more than 14 families and 79 species of birds were recorded. During the bird survey IUCN status was also gathered, out of 215 species, (n = 208), 97% species were Least Concern (LR-lc), (n = 4), 2% species were Near Threatened (LR-nt) and (n = 3), 1% species were Vulnerable (VU) status. The findings of the present study underline the importance of Seshachalam Hills and also provide baseline data about birds in and around the reserve.

Key words: Birds diversity, abundance, status, seshachalam hills.

Abbreviation

Very rare, (VR Least Concern (LR-lc); Threatened, (LR-nt uncommon (UC); 15 species rare, (R); 14 species occasional, O common (C); Resident, (R); Winter Migrant, (WM); Seasonal Local Migrant, (SLM); Local Migrant (LM)