Keywords
Upper Lake
Population.
How to Cite
Abstract
Sarus Crane Grus antigone, the world’s tallest flying bird, is a residential breeding crane in India. It has suffered rapid population decline in the last few decades. We discuss the findings of a study conducted on the Sarus Crane from 2008 to 2010 in the Upper Lake, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, designated as a Ramsar and Important Bird Area (IBA) site. Census of the Sarus Crane was conducted on foot and by boat. Agricultural crop seeds and their shoots were seen to be preferred by the cranes. General data was collected on the crops cultivated in the peripheral villages and the pesticides used. The highest count 24 was in 2008, and numbers declined in the following years. The Sarus Crane population was observed to increase during summer and decrease in monsoon. Various factors are responsible for the declining population, mainly human interference and use of pesticides on crops around the IBA site. Asystematic conservation strategy based on awareness programme is recommended.References
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