Wetland Watch. 2. Rajarhat Waterbodies - The Promising Bird Habitats in Kolkata

Abstract

The eastern fringe of Kolkata, recently getting developed as a new township and destination of affluent class families serving mainly in global fields, possesses acres and acres of wetlands. Some of these wetlands are still untouched by the influence of concrete jungle, and, therefore, still remain as a good destination of bird watchers (Fig. 1), because this area is the perfect habitat of beautiful wetland and grassland birds like Water-cock, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Asian Openbill Stork, Little Grebe, Black-breasted weaver, Red Munia, Tricoloured Munia, Scaly breasted Munia, Striated Grassbird, Bristled Grassbird, Bengal Bushlark, Zitting cisticola , Pipit, Prinia and many more. Habitat preference for breeding and foraging of most of these water birds in these marshy wetlands is due to free floating water-chest-nut mat (Fig. 2). Several fish species as well as a wide variety of macroinvertebrates are available in and around these wetlands, which attract foraging birds.