Vaduvoor Lake Bird Sanctuary (18407)
India, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Vaduvoor Lake Bird Sanctuary
Central coordinates: Latitude: 10.7053, Longitude: 79.3147
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 0.63805
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Vaduvoor Lake Bird Sanctuary is situated in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. It is c. 24 km from Thanjavur and 15 km from Mannargudi. The Lake has a depth of c. 2.5 m, and receives water mainly from the northeast monsoon and the Vennaru river. The Lake irrigates about 1,356 acres of agricultural land. Nayvasal and Vaduvoor villages are situated around the Sanctuary. The road to Mannargudi borders one side of the Lake. The other sides are protected by huge bunds. Migratory birds start to arrive by October and stay till February to March. This freshwater lake is rich in aquatic flora, with submerged, floating and emergent vegetation. Ipomoea carnea is seen in many parts of the Lake. There are thickets of Prosopis chilensis. The Forest Department has planted Acacia nilotica in the lake environs.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: AVIFAUNA: The Sanctuary is well known for several species, notably the Spotbilled Pelican Pelecanus philippensis. Several thousand migratory birds congregate in Vaduvoor during the winter. Detailed studies on the avifauna of this IBA are required. Presently, it can be considered as Data Deficient. OTHER KEY FAUNA: Few published records are available on the fish, reptile and amphibian fauna of this lake. Some of fish recorded are Ambassis urotaenia, Channa punctatus, Ophiocephalus sp. and Mystus tenegra.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture | fisheries/aquaculture | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Aquatic | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: MAIN THREATS: Indiscriminate fishing; Over-grazing; Siltation; Encroachment; Invasion by exotic species; Pollution. The bund is very old and urgently needs repair to avoid a breach during heavy rainfall. Like most other lakes of Tamil Nadu, Vaduvoor is silting up. It needs dredging to increase the depth to store more water. The soil containing bird guano is rich in minerals, and is collected by the villagers to use in their crop fields, which is why the villagers provide protection to the birds. Removal of guano-rich soil should be regulated with the cooperation of the villagers, so that the birds are least disturbed. There is some poaching of birds, mainly by outsiders. This could be stopped by the villagers because they are the beneficiaries of bird guano. A conservation awareness programme and patrolling by the Forest Department could take care of the poaching problem. There is a need to avoid over-fishing. Larger mesh size nets should be used, and there should be no fishing during the breeding season of the fish. Ipomoea carnea is spreading fast. Although it provides habitats to some birds and fish, its spread should be regulated. And finally, there is the larger issue of the use of harmful pesticides in the agricultural fields, which enter the lake with the run-off from the fields. Regular monitoring of the water quality, through the local college/university could be taken up. Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary is a good site for research on freshwater ecosystems, fish, birds, impact of pesticides, socio-economic benefits of birds conservation and regulated use of guano-rich soil.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Soil erosion, sedimentation | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Herbicides and pesticides | Ongoing |