DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8330981
title: Rapid Documentation Of Avifaunal Diversity of Neora Valley National park, Kalimpong, West Bengal, India

description: The dataset “Rapid Documentation Of Avifaunal Diversity of Neora Valley National park, Kalimpong,West Bengal, India” is published by Nature Mates Nature Club Neora Valley National park established in 1986 is situated in Kalimpong district of West Bengal, India. It is also known as the land of Red Panda. It spreads over an area of 88 km2 (34 sq mi). It is unique and ecologically important as it includes a relatively inaccessible patch of late successional forests and with rich diversity and a wide range of environment gradients. Four habitat types are recognised viz., (i) Subtropical Mixed Broadleaf Forest, (ii) Lower Temperate Evergreen Forest, (iii) Upper Temperate Mixed Broadleaf Forest and (iv) Rhododendron Forest. The vegetation includes Dry Mixed Forest, Wet Mixed Forest, Lauraceous Forest, Bak-Oak Forest, High level oak Forest, Coniferous Forest, Himalayan Moist Temperate Forest and Rhododendron forest. It is home to several endemic orchids. The common species of Rhododendrons are Rhododendron arboruem, R. barbatum, R.falconeri, R. dalhousiae. A number of species with medicinal value are also found here. Some of them are Swertia chirata, Lycopodium spp., Aconitum spp., Aristolochia spp., Berberis cristata, Costus speciosa, Didymocarpus pedicellate, Rouwolfia serpentine, etc. Neora valley national has a rich faunal diversity like, Mammals reported from this area are Indian leopard, five viverrid species, Asiatic black bear, sloth bear, Asian golden cat, wild boar, leopard cat, goral, serow, barking deer, sambar deer, flying squirrel and tahr, red panda, clouded leopard, Reptilian fauna includes King cobra, common krait, green pit viper, blind snake, lizards. Insects include butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, wasps, bugs and cicadas. Besides this it is also bestowed with rich avian diversity. The dataset presented below compiles a comprehensive record of avian species observed during a field excursion to Neora Valley National Park on 2nd and 3rd March of the year 2021. All the birds have been categorized and recognised at either the species or genus taxonomic rank. The avian taxonomic group is varied, consisting of 59 species that are categorized into 30 families and 8 orders. <strong>Resource Contacts</strong> <strong>Name: Arjan Basu Roy</strong> Position: Secretary Organization: Nature Mates-Nature Club Address: 6/7 Bijoygarh Kolkata-700032 Email: basuroyarjan@gmail.com Orcid : https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9872-3562 Home page: http://www.naturematesindia.org/ <strong>Name: Lina Chatterjee</strong> Position: Research Affiliate Organization: Nature Mates-Nature Club Address: 6/7 Bijoygarh Kolkata-700032 Email: lina.linachatterjee@gmail.com Orcid : https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5626-5046 Home page: http://www.naturematesindia.org/ <strong>Name: Tarak Samanta</strong> Position: Research Affiliate Organization: Nature Mates-Nature Club Address: 6/7 Bijoygarh Kolkata-700032 Email: taraksamanta995@gmail.com Orcid : https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6809-0549 Home page: http://www.naturematesindia.org/ <strong>Name: Rishin Basu Roy</strong> Position: Researcher Organization: Nature Mates-Nature Club Address: 6/7 Bijoygarh Kolkata-700032 Email: wildrishin@gmail.com Orcid : https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9638-818X Home page: http://www.naturematesindia.org/ <strong>Name: Nivedita Sengupta</strong> Position: Intern Organization: Nature Mates-Nature Club Address: 6/7 Bijoygarh Kolkata-700032 Email: niveditasngpta.ns@gmail.com Orcid : https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1085-7385 Home page: http://www.naturematesindia.org/ <strong>Name: Vijay Barve</strong> Position: Research Advisor Organization: Nature Mates-Nature Club Address: 6/7 Bijoygarh Kolkata-700032 Email: vijay.barve@gmail.com Orcid : https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4852-2567 Home page: http://www.naturematesindia.org/