Rapid Documentation Of Avifaunal Diversity of Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India

The dataset “Rapid Documentation Of Avifaunal Diversity of Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India” is published by Nature Mates Nature Club The establishment of the Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary took place in 1915 within the Darjeeling District of West Bengal, India.The term 'Senchal' denotes 'The Hill of Damp and Mist', therefore leading to the designation of the refuge as the "Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary". The aforementioned wildlife sanctuary holds the distinction of being among the oldest in India, encompassing a total land area of 38.6 square kilometres. The central region of the Sanctuary maintains a consistently low temperature throughout all seasons. The months of July and August are characterised by the occurrence of monsoon in the region. The central region of the sanctuary experiences an annual precipitation range of 2500 - 3000 mm. A significant volume of water is discharged through the fountains and slopes originating from the elevated region of the Sanctuary, ultimately flowing into the Teesta River in the east and the Balason River in the west. The soil is unconsolidated, young, and of the Mountainous loamy type, with some sands mixed in on the upper part. The Kurseong region is characterised by a soil composition consisting primarily of alluvial mixtures, which provides favourable conditions for the establishment and development of many tree species. The sanctuary comprises a harmonious integration of both natural and man-made woodlands, seamlessly intertwined. The prevailing taxonomic groups comprise Acer thomsonii, Rhus spp., Dichroa febrifuga, and Oxyspora paniculata. The plant species found in the undergrowth of this particular region include Ranunculus diffusus, Viola serpens, Stellaria pattens, Primula spp., and Clerodendrum sp. Ericaceae (Rhododendron arboreum, R. grande), Magnoliaceae (Magnolia dalsopa), Schisandraceae (Schisandra grandiflora), and Berberidaceae (Mahonia napaulensis) are among the plant families represented. The area under consideration has a dominant presence of Melastomataceae members, such as Osbeckia spp. and Oxyspora paniculata. The introduction of Cryptomeria japonica to the sanctuary throughout the 19th century has resulted in its widespread cultivation. The presence of Pinus and members of the Fagaceae family contributes to the scenic landscape of the hills in this region. Additional plant species include Castanopsis acuminatissima, Quercus lamellosa, Lithocarpus pachyphyllus, and Alnus nepalensis, among others. Several exotic plant species, such as Eucalyptus and Cupressus, have been introduced inside this particular geographic region. Certain species of bamboo, characterised by their limited population size, can be observed on the slopes. Several grass species, such as Saccharum spp. and Themeda spp., have been documented in the lower and intermediate zones of the Sanctuary. Eulalia pattens, Isachne albens, Oplismenus compositus, and Sporobolus diander have established a substantial presence within a significant geographic expanse. Several species of orchids, including Coelogyne corymbosa, Cymbidium elegens, Pleione praecox, and various other members of the Orchidaceae family, can be found within the Sanctuary. Barking deer, Wild boar, Himalayan black bear, Indian leopard, Jungle cat, Rhesus macaque, Assamese macaque, Himalayan flying squirrel are some of the mammalian species that inhabits the area along with many others. In addition, this sanctuary exhibits a significant abundance of avian species. The dataset is a complete compilation of bird species identified during a biodiversity study conducted in the year 2017. All species have been classified and identified at either the species or genus taxonomic level. There is a diverse assemblage of 109 avian species, with each species being systematically classified within various 44 families and 12 orders.