Mercury (0.17-79.66 ppm) has been studied in all 44 species, whereas selenium (0.98-4.88 ppm) has only been studied in five species. Mercury (8.6 ppm) contamination is highest in Painted Stork from India. Cadmium, lead, copper, and arsenic contamination was detected in the highest concentrations in Cattle Egret and Indian Pond Heron. The highest contamination of cadmium (41.1 ppm), lead (296 ppm), and arsenic (20 ppm) were found in Cattle Egret from Pakistan. Chromium, nickel, and zinc contamination was highest in waders such as Marsh Sandpiper (114.7 ppm), Little Ringed Plover (114.8 ppm), and Little Stint (328.4 ppm), respectively from India. Black-tailed Gull from South Korea had the highest contamination of Iron (4055.55 ppm) and selenium (7.55 ppm). Feather analysis is not an alternative of internal tissue analysis. It should be considered as an initial warning of the hazardous effects of the heavy metals in the waterbirds.

The present investigation was undertaken to study the diversity of wetland birds in Chhaya Rann (Gujarati: Deserted land) wetland complex, situated in the urban setting of Porbandar City, in the western state of Gujarat, India.  Almost 70 species belonging to 21 families of wetland birds have been reported from here with an estimated count of 35,747 and 20,981 in the year 2016 and 2015 respectively.  Anatidae and Scolopacidae represent the higher number of species (11 each) followed by Ardeidae (eight species) and Laridae (seven species).  The wetland complex supports one IUCN Red Listed Vulnerable species (Common Pochard Aythya ferina), six Near Threatened species (Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor, Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster, Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa and River Tern Sterna aurantia), and 63 Least Concern species.  The wetland meets the Criteria 5 and 6 for listing as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

The Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus is a common to uncommon winter visitor to Gujarat.  The species roosted in bushes of Prosopis juliflora in the grassland of Shiroda area, Odadar Village of Porbandar District.  Communal roosts were identified by foot surveys between 9–17 November 2016.  A total of 20 individuals co-existed with grazing cattle in the grassland of ca. 1km2.  At present due to their restricted nesting habits and nomadic nature, the species is vulnerable to habitat loss at their feeding and roosting grounds.  Conversion of open habitats to agriculture, grazing, recreation, housing and tourism development are the current threats to the species in the wetland complex.  The IUCN conservation status further confirms that though they are assessed as Least Concern, in spite of the species population constantly declining with global population estimated at 3,000,000 individuals which equates to 2,000,000 mature individuals.  The present study is the first systematic attempt to count a roost in Gujarat.

Rajkot District in Gujarat, India harbours abundant avifauna, yet systematic checklists of this region are lacking. Here we present a checklist of bird in key habitats both natural and man-made, including grasslands, open lands with scattered scrub forests, wetlands (urban lakes) and reservoirs in Rajkot District. We report 348 species of birds belonging to 74 families and 22 orders, of which 281 species were observed by us during the survey and 67 species were compiled from published literature. Species recorded were from the orders Passeriformes (140), Charadriiformes (50), Accipitriformes (28), Anseriformes (19), and Pelecaniformes (19); 316 species were classed as  Least Concern (LC), 18 Near Threatened (NT), eight Vulnerable (VU), two Endangered (EN), and four Critically Endangered (CR) as per IUCN. One-hundred-and-forty-six species are resident, 138 winter visitors, 13 monsoon migrants, 12 vagrants, 12 local migrant, and the rest have multiple migratory status. With regards to habitat suitability, 116 species are aquatic (wetland dependant), 67 open land, 66 forest, 19 grassland, and the remainder show overlaps in habitat preference. A total of 124 species are found to breed in Rajkot District. It is important to note that 17 species have not been sighted in and around Rajkot District since 1990, hence they are listed as locally extinct, along with four Data Deficient species.