Temporal Variations of Shorebird Abundance and Diversity at Muttukadu Backwaters – A Key Wintering Site in the Southeast Coast of India

The study was carried out to assess the shorebird abundance and its diversity during September 2021 to September 2023 using direct observation and block count method, on the southeast coastline of India, with a study site located at Muttukadu backwaters (12.8006^oN latitude and 80.2363^o E longitude), Chengalpet district of Tamil Nadu. Our study documented 28 shorebird species from Muttukadu backwaters with four families that belongs to the order Charadriiformes. The mean abundance of shorebirds was higher in the post monsoon and followed by monsoon period due to the increased abundance of migratory species. The highest diversity of shorebirds was observed in the monsoon season. The data from rarefaction curve showed that post monsoon and monsoon had higher species richness than pre monsoon and summer. This survey of wintering shorebirds in the study area can be used for proposing the habitat management strategies.