Abstract
Wetland ecosystems support a disproportionately high proportion of global avian diversity relative to their limited spatial
extent, serving as critical habitats for resident waterbirds, migratory shorebirds, and wintering wildfowl along the Central
and East Asian flyways. The inland wetlands of the Deccan Plateau and coastal wetlands of the Eastern Indian coastline
represent globally significant nodes in the Central Asian Flyway, yet comprehensive multi-year avifaunal surveys with
quantitative distribution data remain sparse for this region. This study documents the diversity and distribution of avifauna
across 28 wetland ecosystems spanning inland reservoirs, coastal lagoons, mangroves, and flooded agricultural
wetlands in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha, surveyed using standardised point counts and distance sampling
transects over three complete annual cycles (2019-2022). A total of 312 bird species from 58 families are documented,
comprising 184 resident breeding species and 128 migratory or seasonal visitors. Waders (Charadriiformes: 64 species)
and herons/egrets (Ardeidae: 22 species) are the most species-rich groups. Wetland area, hydroperiod stability, and
surrounding agricultural land use are the three strongest predictors of avian species richness. Chilika Lake contributes
the highest single-wetland species richness (218 species over the study period). Twenty-four species are IUCN
Threatened or Near Threatened. Key populations of the globally threatened Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius),
Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), and Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) are documented.
Conservation and management recommendations are presented for priority wetland sites.