The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) Aredeotis nigriceps is one of three bustards resident in India (Plate 2.1). This bird is endemic to the Indian sub-continent and had been widely distributed in almost all the plains and grasslands from U.P and Punjab in north, Tamil Nadu in the south and from Sind (Pakistan) to Orissa in the east (Hume and Marshal 1887, Baker 1921, Ali and Ripley 1969). Excessive shooting and destruction of habitat over the years have greatly reduced its number and today these bustard survive in few isolated pockets in states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh (Rahmani and Manakadan 1983, Rahmani 1987). In Madhya Pradesh, agricultural expansion, encroachment within the protected areas, construction of canals, roads, railway lines and other irrigation facilities and illegal poaching have lead to the destruction of GIB habitat and consequently a decline in bird population. Today, the total GIB number in the districts of Shivpuri, Gwalior, Raipur and Guna range between 50 and 100 (Rahmani 1989) Karera, Ghatigaon and Pohri are the only three places in Madhya Pradesh from where confirmed sightings and breeding records are available. Of these, the Pohri area (Proposed Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary) lies in the route of the proposed HBJ gas pipeline. This pipeline would run for almost 25 km through the proposed Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary .The increasing rarity of this bird (Ripley 1952, Ali 1970) on other counts and the proposed upgradation of pipeline route through Pohri justify the selection of this area as one of the study sites for EIA.