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Ujjani Reservoir Survey Found 818 Nests of Six Ground-nesting Waterbirds

River tern in breeding plumage
Research · Reproduction & development

Surveys at Ujjani Reservoir in Maharashtra, India, documented 818 nests of six ground-nesting waterbird species during May and June 2022. The study, first published in March 2026, covered three breeding islands and nearby riverbanks used by river tern (Sterna aurantia), little tern (Sternula albifrons), black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), small pratincole (Glareola lactea), Oriental pratincole (Glareola maldivarum) and greater painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis).

Little tern was the most numerous nesting species, with 317 nests, followed by river tern with 236 and small pratincole with 104. Around 75% of small pratincole nests held two eggs, while nearly 70% of black-winged stilt nests contained four eggs. Six greater painted-snipe nests were recorded, four of them with four-egg clutches.

Livestock trampling was the main threat

The researchers identified livestock trampling as the most serious threat. About 100 buffaloes were observed visiting Chincholi and Diksal islands two to three times per week, creating a risk of crushed nests and eggs. Shaha Island had no livestock but was repeatedly disturbed by tourists, and the researchers recorded egg collection and chicks being killed by children from nearby villages. Chicks could also become entangled in discarded fishing nets, while free-ranging dogs preyed on nesting birds.

High rainfall delayed nesting habitat

Above-average rainfall delayed the exposure of islands and riverbanks by around 30–45 days. The authors linked this late emergence to the detection of only one Oriental pratincole nest despite an estimated local population of nearly 400 birds. They call for stronger protection of the reservoir’s breeding islands and for measures to reduce livestock access, disturbance and other human pressures during the nesting season.

Sources and image credit

  1. Joshi, O., Katti, T., Natu, A., Ganeshan, P., & Sathiyaselvam, P. (2026). A Note on Ground-Nesting Waterbirds at Selected Sites of Ujjani Reservoir, Maharashtra, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 123(1). https://doi.org/10.17087/jbnhs/2026/v123/171078Primary article. The full text states 'First published: March 31, 2026'; the journal platform later displays 21 April 2026. Surveys in May–June 2022 documented 818 nests of six ground-nesting waterbird species at Ujjani Reservoir, including 317 Little Tern, 236 River Tern and 104 Small Pratincole nests. Livestock trampling was identified as the most critical threat, alongside tourist disturbance, egg collection, fishing-net entanglement and predation by free-ranging dogs.

Image: Swardeepak / Wikimedia Commons — river tern (Sterna aurantia) in breeding plumage at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, India, 26 January 2017. The species was among the six ground-nesting waterbirds in the Ujjani study; illustrative photograph, not from Ujjani Reservoir. CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

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Reproduction & development

SPECIES IN THIS STORY

Species in this story

River Tern Sterna aurantia Explore species Little Tern Sternula albifrons Explore species Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Explore species Small Pratincole Glareola lactea Explore species

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