A…..A…. 1 P: ISSN No. 0976-8602 RNI No.UPENG/2012/42622 VOL.-V, ISSUE-IV, October-2016 E: ISSN No. 2349-9443 Asian Resonance Avian Diversity in an Around Dhir Beel in Dhubri District of Assam Arup Nama Das Research Scholar, Deptt.of.Zoology, University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya Y. Lokeshwor Singh Assistant Professor, Deptt.of Zoology, University of Science & Technology, Meghalaya Keywords: Dhir Beel, Avian Fauna, Migratory Birds, Reptiles, Aquatic Birds. Introduction Assam is one of the ―endemic bird areas‖ in the world. With 950 bird species the state is home to 53.5 % of the bird species found in the Indian Sub-continent and 17 species of birds are endemic to Assam. This diversity in bird species is due to the fact that the northeast and Assam in particular is due to the South-eastern Himalayan geographical location connecting Chinese plain in the North. Assam is having more than 750 Wetland areas which support a vast diversity of bird and wildlife. Wetlands are of immense use to mankind both economically and zoologically. Birds need cover, nesting in particular, need shelter from predators especially for habitats including trees, reeds, aquatic vegetation, grasses, rocks and dense forest areas, prefer areas which provide them food, space or materials for nesting. The requirements of habitat is species specific, often show a marked preference for nesting and foraging at certain heights, and in certain structures of vegetation. Cavity nesters such as woodpeckers, require trees of the age and size to support suitable holes. Terns require sandy stretches which are nearly devoid of vegetation and use their bodies to shelter their eggs and chicks. Wetland provides many such habitats where they can lay their eggs. Review of Literature A total of 213 bird species are known to occur in the Sanctuary and the surrounding waterbodies (Barua 1995, Lahkar 2003). Chakrashila was treated as hunting area even after it was declared as a reserve forest in 1966. The dominance of birds, mainly waterfowl is the major attraction of this wildlife sanctuary. This indiscriminate hunting led to the local extinction Abstract Studies on the avian fauna of Dhir Beel revealed 208 species of birds belonging to 43 families. Out of these, 15 species are purely aquatic birds. As the water of the wetland is clear, rich in dissolved oxygen and supports variety of aquatic weeds and fishes, it has been found to be suitable for birds and attracts many migratory birds like brahminy duck, black–necked grebe, red–necked grebe, large cormorant, white eyed pochard, Indian shagmon pochard, tufted duck, Indian moorhen, coot, great black headed gull, little gull, river tern, bar headed goose, shoveler, darter, stork etc. Hornbills are also sometimes spotted here. Out of 102 species of birds recorded at Dhir Beel, 1 species (Neophron percnopterus) is endangered, 4 species (Anhinga melanogester, Aythya fuligula, Limosa limosa, Mycteria leucocephala and Sterna acuticauda) are near threatened, and 4 species (Aquila haliaca, A. clanga, Haliaeetus leucoryphus and Rynchops albicollis) are vulnerable. Also the beel area nearby Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary is reach in amphibea, reptiles and Primates such as snakes, crocodiles, alligators, lizards, turtles, Indian Short-tailed Mole, Indian Flying Fox, Short Nosed Fruit Bat, Indian False Vampire, Indian Pipistrelle, Rhesus Macaque, Chinese Pangolin, Asiatic Jackal, Bengal Fox, and more than forty species of butterfly in the sanctuary. The vegetation in the wetland and the surrounding hillsides has semi deciduous forests. In any type of ecosystem, avian fauna constitutes one of the major biotic components (Dhindsa and Saini, 1994). Wetlands are extremely important for birds, as these provide excellent habitat to birds for foraging, breeding, roosting, premigratory requirements (moulting, fat deposition), migration, staging, over wintering and protection from predators. A large number of bird species are ecologically dependent on wetlands, at least at some stage of their life cycle. Waterfowl (Family Anatidae) is one group of such birds.