The dataset “Rapid documentation of Avian Species recorded during Midwinter Waterfowl Census in Nadia-Murshidabad Forest Division for two consecutive years. (2022-2023)” is published by Nature Mates Nature Club.
The Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey is a nationwide effort to survey waterfowl in areas of major concentration on their wintering grounds and provide winter distribution and habitat affiliations. The Mid-winter Survey is known as a “cruise” survey, in that specific predefined transects are not defined. Instead, an aerial crew determines the best and most practical means to conduct a complete count of all waterfowl within a predefined unit area.
(https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/mbdc/databases/mwi/aboutmwi_allflyways.htm#:~:text=The%20Mid%2Dwinter%20Survey%20is%20known%20as%20a%20%E2%80%9Ccruise%E2%80%9D,within%20a%20predefined%20unit%20area.)
the Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey, provides information on population trends for some species, distribution on the wintering grounds, and habitat use
(https://sciencetracker.deltacouncil.ca.gov/activities/mid-winter-waterfowl-survey-mws)
This survey is generally conducted in the month of January.
This dataset enlists all the birds recorded during a Midwinter Waterfowl Census conducted in two consecutive years 2022 and 2023.
The areas covered are Bahadurpur Wetland, Nidoyar Bil, Char Balidanga, Doya Bil, Bhaluka Bil.
The Bahadarpur bil has dry loose soil that forms the bank, areas on the bank are covered with long grasses making it a perfect habitat for terrestrial birds, the water level is generally low, the aquatic vegetation is moderate, big trees surround the area, one side of the waterbody has dense reed bed.
Nidoyar Bil on the other side has a stretch of agriculture field where the main crop is paddy as observed during the time of the survey. Agricultural stretch is interspersed by patches of water hyacinth where the water level is low, followed by a continuous stretch of water used for agriculture. The soil here is clayey
Char Balidanga is a huge landmass created due to the disposition of the silt in the heart of the Ganges. The soil here is hard alluvial. The place has been transformed into an agricultural land field by locals, lack of human interference has made it a viable home for waders and ducks. The plot of land contains a large amount of long grassy grassland suited for terrestrial birds.
Bhaluka bil and Doya bil are wetland areas with aquatic flora, with lotus dominating in Bhaluka bil.
All the birds h...