In this study the impact of the urban development on plant and wetland dependent bird population is compared between the two arms of the lake exposed to similar types of climatic and edaphic conditions but different anthropogenic pressure. Disturbances, specially that caused by human recreational activities, is a threat to water-birds, particularly since many recreational activities may be increasing in intensity and distribution. Wetlands plants provide important bird habitats and birds use them for breeding, nesting, and rearing young. Both wetland plants and water-birds are under intense pressure from human activities such as land claim, habitat destruction, pollution, hunting and recreation. As the wetland habitats are drained or altered, the ability of these areas to sustain bird populations decreases. The present investigation is a comparative study of the change in aquatic plant pattern and consequent displacement of the bird population vis-à-vis urban development on the two arms of an ox-bow lake Motijheel (24° 9’ 42" N, 88° 16’ 33" E) of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India. Along one arm of the ox-bow lake there is rapid urbanization whereas along the other arm there is little human activity. Total 67 bird species were available along one arm of the ox-bow lake where there is less anthropogenic pressure. However only 31 bird species were found along the other arm of the lake where there is urban development. 32 angiosperms were found to be associated with the water birds but many of them were not found in equal proportion along the two arms of the Motijheel Lake. 

Keywords: Aquatic Plants; Wetland-Dependent Bird Populations; Urban Development; Ox-Bow Lake .