Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula) Nestling Morphometry and Feeding Habits in Bajaur Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan
Oriental Skylark (Alauda gulgula) Nestling Morphometry and Feeding Habits in Bajaur Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan
Rahmat Ullah Khan1*, Asif Sadam2, Karim Gabol1, Waheed Ali Panhwar3, Sajid Mahmood4, Mustafa Kamal5, Hamid Ullah6, Syed Abidullah7, Muhammad Tufail8, Bashir Ahmad4, Gul Bacha Khan4 and Habib Ul Hassan1
ABSTRACT
The present investigation was aimed to improve the contemporary information about morphometry and diet of Oriental skylark Alauda gulgula nestling from hatching to 8th day very carefully during the breeding season (April, May, June, and July) 2019, in district Bajaur. A total of 70 nestlings of 22 nests were studied systematically. The eggs were hatched out both from the middle point and blunt end. All the eggs were hatched asynchronously with closed eyes and a naked body. They opened their eyes on average after 3.27±0.4 days of hatching. Their wing and tail feathers grew on an average of 3.8±0.3 day of age. On the 8th day, their average morphometry (cm) was: body length 6.7±0.1, wingspan 4.8±0.1, tail feathers 0.8±0.7, beak 0.7±0.3, chest 2±0.1, legs 2.02±0.5, middle claw 0.2±0.04, hind claw 0.4±0.04, and average body weight (g) 20.7±0.7. From hatching till the 3rd day of age, they were fed totally with larvae of arthropods, most1y Lepidoptera and Coleoptera (40%), Hymenoptera (12%) and Diptera (8%). However, adults and grains were not fed. Nestlings (4th day age) were fed by adults (32%), larvae (69%), and grains (2%). While the chicks were fed mostly by adults (72%), with larvae (23%) and grains of seed (5%). Significant differences were present in the growth of all traits, morphometry, diet, and food collection sites. However, no difference in feeding was noted. The main loss of nestlings was by mammalian predators and grazing and cutting of local crops. Awareness about the protection strategy of skylark from egg laying till fledging is required among locals and farmers.
To share on other social networks, click on any share button. What are these?
