Dharambir SinghPriya2023-02-032023-02-032022-07https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810193172Avifaunal diversity assessment and fecal matter analysis for presence of bacterial micro biota was carried out from July 2019 to February 2022 and samples were collected from selected locations of Haryana. Line transacts point count and focal scan sampling methods adopted to record the avian diversity and activity pattern of avian species. A total of 99 species were identified at farmlands of CCSHAU Hisar. Agricultural crops at research farm area were found an ideal habitat for avian community organization as 62, 55, 53 and 40 bird species were found inhabiting mustard, pearl millet, wheat and cotton fields respectively. Some avian pests of agricultural crop were also identified, among them Psittacula krameri was found as most notorious one. More damage was reported in grain/seed bearing crops like pearl millet and mustard compared to cotton. Basai wetlands, an Important Bird Area were inhabited by 119 avian species from October, 2019 to September, 2021. More diversity was recorded during post COVID period which may be related to less anthropogenic activities in or around the wetlands. Birds are considered as best bio indicators of microbial and heavy metal pollution in any ecosystem. A total of 26 bacterial species of 14 genera were isolated from fecal matter of birds, many among them, such as Aeromonas spp., Escherichia spp., Plesiomonas spp. are opportunistic human pathogens. Heavy metal analysis of fecal matter showed significant spatial variations. Most of the heavy metals were found in highest concentration in the samples collected from Basai wetlands that may be attributed to the higher pollution level at the site due to urban developmental activities.EnglishThesis