M Zaheer Khan, S Anser Rizvi, Roohi Kanwal, Saima Siddiqui, Amtyaz Safi, M Asif Iqbal, Afsheen Zehra, Uzma Manzoor, Ubaid Ullah and M Atiqullah Khan
Keywords: Haleji, keenjhar, hub dam, freshwater, water birds
Abstract: One of the important known functions of wetlands is to provide a habitat for water birds. In the present study, water quality and population statistics of avifauna has been estimated from three Ramsar sites including Keenjhar Lake, Haleji Lake and Hub Dam Wildlife Sanctuary. Surveys were conducted for duration of ten months from March to December 2015. Contaminants of Organochlorines and Organophosphate pesticides were found in the water samples of Haleji Lake, while Maximum Acceptable Concentrations (MAC) level of pesticides were found in water samples of Keenjhar Lake. There were 228 species of birds recorded in the Haleji Lake, while Keenjhar Lake contains 121 species of birds and the total numbers of birds present at Hub Dam were 160 species. Biodiversity of Haleji Lake seems to have declined because of many anthropological and social activities. Bird population in Keenjhar Lake is at high risk because of illegal hunting, poaching, habitat destruction and pollution. The water contents of Hub Dam seem to be non-toxic and suitable for human consumption. The habitat is degraded due to misuse of natural resources. Decline in the number of bird’s population indicates the environmental pollution, habitat quality degradation and over exploitation of natural resources
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