Population trend of Grey and Purple Heron in National Chambal Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, India

Data of two species of Herons were collected, during the annual census of major aquatic fauna in the National Chambal Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, India, over a period of 23 monitoring seasons. The survey was conducted by direct visual observation method from 1985 to 2016. During the surveys all the relevant information about the current status of Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) and Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) in different zone of the Chambal River was complied. A total of 5318 (Avg. 443.66±242.6) individuals of Grey Heron and 104 (Avg. 8.66±4.39) individuals of Purple Heron were sighted. The highest density of Grey Heron 22.32/km was observed in zone XI and Purple Heron 0.75/km in zone III.  Similarly, the least density of Grey Heron 4.82/km was in zone I, VIII and that of Purple Heron 0.07/km was in zone X. The result of the present study indicates that Chambal River continues to be a good habitat for Heron population. The Heron shares similar habitat and similar level of anthropogenic pressure in the study area. This is the first attempt to document the population status and distribution of Heron in different habitat zone of the sanctuary.