The impact of Konkan Railway project on the Avifauna of Carambolim Lake in Goa

Abstract

The Carambolim Lake (73055'N & 15030'E ) in Goa, is an age old minor irrigation tank known for its rich bird fauna. Conflicting opinions were aired as to the ecological damage likely to be caused to the lake environs owing to the Konkan Railway track alignment in its immediate vicinity. A long term qualitative and quantitative analysis of the bird fauna of the lake was undertaken from January 1996 to July 1998. The lake harboured 92 species of birds including 17 winter visitors. Many of the new sightings during the year 1997 were truly terrestrial birds like shrikes, parakeets, etc., while some like Rosy Starlingand Brown-headed Gulls were mere vagrants to the area. Therefore, the sightings of 23 additional species of birds during the year 1997 need not be considered as a sign of qualitative improvement of the avifauna over that of the previous year. However, there was a perceptible increase crossing in the cumulative total of birds in general and that of waterbirds in particular, during 1997. Likewise, the percent increases in the cumulative strength of the dominant winter visitors such as Pintails and Lesser Whistling Ducks during 1997 were 81 and 340 respectively. These can be construed as sure signs of recovery by the avifauna of the lake, during a relatively tranquil operational phase (1997) from the peak disturbances caused by the construction activity (1996). All the same, the lake needs protection from other threats like encroachment and incessant silting.