Population Dynamics of Sarus Crane (Grus antigone antigone, Linn.) in and around Alwara Lake of district - Kaushambi (U.P.), India

Abstract

Survey of Sarus Crane (Grus antigone antigone, Linn.) was carried out within a period of one year (from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2013) in and around Alwara Lake of district Kaushambi (U.P.), India. Crane population was recorded as single, pairs, pairs with juvenile, juvenile and flocks. Population size was 60.3±6.2 (16-80). Population was significantly influenced by local climatic temperature than humidity. Only single and flocks more significantly correlated positive to climatic temperature. Maximum number of 723 Cranes was recorded with a density of 1.8/ hectare including all age groups. During the survey adult pairs were recorded with a maximum percentage of 40.1
preceded by flock (23.9%) among all the observed age groups. Inspite of extreme temperature and humidity cranes were observed enjoying this land form. Besides this openness of land, numerous marsh wet land including the lake, alterations of crop fields i.e. Kharif, Rabi and Jayad , availability of food resources, variation in aquatic plants make the crane life style compatible to this habitat. Hence the objective of this study was to explore conservational and distributional aspects of crane and its habitat which can be shared in public awareness programmes