URBAN ARTIFICIAL WETLANDS AS CRITICAL HABITATS: OBSERVATIONS ON MIGRATORY BIRDS IN RAJNANDGAON CITY CHHATTISGARH (INDIA)

Rajnandgaon city is one of the most populated main cities of Chhattisgarh which is situated on the banks of Shivnath River.Although there is a lack of wetland space around Rajnandgaon city, but Shivnath River and some major drains flowing into it like Parri Nala, Paneka Nala, Thekuwa Nala and small and big ponds within the city are the main base land areas.A few years ago, to control the increasing noise & traffic of heavy vehicles within the city, a bypass road was constructed in which a lot of private land was acquired and the road was constructed.The area of government land acquired for the bypass road, due to water logging, has created an artificial wetland area on the side of about 06 kilometres the road.Due to its location in a huge area of the city, it proved to be an excellent habitat for birds.Last year, from June 2023 to May 2024, we studied various types of migratory birds at the same time as the local birds living in these areas.During our observation, we found 19 migratory birds.Some endangered bird species was also seen in the said area.Which may reach the verge of extinction in the near future or may even become extinct?The migration of endangered birds in plains and forestless areas is a subject of research.We were fortunate to find that in the urban wetland area, birds are getting adequate food, habitat and breeding opportunities and there is very little anthropogenic activity supporting Avian life, but the movement of heavy vehicles generates more noise and pollution.