Nesting Use of Tree Species by Avifauna Inhabiting Pabbi Range Forest, Kharian, Punjab, Pakistan
Nesting Use of Tree Species by Avifauna Inhabiting Pabbi Range Forest, Kharian, Punjab, Pakistan
Tariq Mahmood*1, Syed Wasif Ahmed Shah1, Muhammad Rais1, Hira Fatima1, Faraz Akrim1 and Muhammad Sajid Nadeem2
ABSTRACT
Nesting is a common phenomenon in reproductive behavior of birds that plays an important role during their different life stages. Nest composition and location are important factors in studying utility of plant material by avifauna. The current study investigated nesting use of tree species by avifauna at Pabbi Range Forest Kharian (32.811°N and 73.865°E), District Gujrat, from September 2013 to June 2015. Data were collected from five selected sampling sites by searching and identifying nests of different bird species in various vegetation types and observing birds on the nest. The nests were monitored for breeding activity of the particular bird species through clutch size, incubation period, and hatching success. Sixty-two active nests of various bird species were recorded; common myna Acredotheris tristis, house crow Corvus splendens, Indian robin Saxicoloides fulicatus and black drongo Dicrurus macrocerus preferred Kikar Acacia nilotica and Eucalyptus camaldulensis for nesting purpose while black kite Milvus migrans utilized semal tree Bombax ceiba. The weaver bird Ploceus philippinus also utilized only Acacia nilotica for nesting. The common crow, common myna, black kite, black drongo, red turtle dove Streptopelia tranquebarica and Indian robin Saxicoloides fulicatus successfully bred in particular nests whereas red wattled lapwing Vanellus vanellus, pigeon Columba livia, parrot Psittacula sp.and kingfisher Halcyon sp.did not show any evidence of nesting or breeding.
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February 2018
Vol. 50, Iss. 1, Pages 1-400
