A preliminary report on the development of young Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis (Franklin, 1831) in and around Puducherry, southern India

Author Details: M. ERIC RAMANUJAM currently involved in biodiversity surveys of vertebrates on the Adyar Poonga Project (wetland restoration) in Chennai. Has previously conducted surveys of the Kaliveli region under the European Commission and UBS projects. Has been researching imagery as a tool to enhance environmental sensitization and has illustrated posters, booklets, journal articles, etc. Has been conducting autecological and ethological investigations on Bubo bengalensis since 1997. T. MURUGAVEL has been involved in environmental activism in addition to being an amateur bird watcher and photographer. Currently employed as Professor (English), Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Pennalur, Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.


INTRODUCTION
Growth rates represent a fundamental aspect that can provide information for ageing nestlings in birds. Unfortunately, in spite of their importance in bird population monitoring for environmental degradation, little information on the development of young Strigiformes is available in India. To the best of our knowledge, detailed literature is available only for two species: nidification of Bubo bengalensis (Eates 1937) and morphometry and nidification of Athene brama (Kumar 1985). This is in stark contrast to studies in other parts of the world where Strigiformes are among the best studied taxa for nesting and nidification among birds and many species have been studied in detail for example, Tyto alba (Sumner 1929;Pickwell 1948;Howell 1964), Otus asio (Sumner 1928(Sumner , 1929, Otus flammeolus (McCallum et al. 1995), Bubo bubo (Penteriani et al. 2005), Bubo virginianus (Sumner 1929;Hoffmeister & Setzer 1947), Nyctea scandiaca (Watson 1949), Asio flammeus (Clark 1975;Holt 1992), Strix occidentalis (Forsman 1981), and Ciccaba virgata and Ciccaba nigrolineata (Gerhardt et al. 1994).
This report concerns development of young in the Indian Eagle Owl Bubo bengalensis and presents primary data on morphometry and body weight along with photographic documentation. Though this report could be used as a guide to age young Bubo bengalensis in the region, it must be remembered that this investigation is still preliminary in nature and therefore any generalization of relationships should await corroboration from further studies.

METHODS
Study area: A number of ravines extend from Kalapet (12 0 01N & 79 0 51E) near the seashore, southwestwards through the Auroville plateau to the Hermitage -Aranya -Merveille area (11 0 55N & 79 0 46E) adjacent to Ousteri lake -all in a radius of 10 to 15 km from Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) city. Though most of these areas are environmental disasters, a few still contain a wealth of biota -including resident breeding Bubo bengalensis.
Field studies centered around four breeding pairs and their young from February 1998 to March 2006. For further details refer Table 1.
Methods: Morphometric measurements were recorded when the young were 10 days old until the young were fully able to fly i.e., the 60 th day. In fact it was difficult after the 35 th day to catch the young birds and take measurements as they could glide and flap away and the terrain made access very difficult. Only nests with chicks at least 10 days old were monitored at close range as new-born owl chicks are known to be very sensitive to human handling. Penteriani et al. (2005) caution against approaching nests of Bubo bubo with chicks less than 15 days old and McCallum et al. (1995) suggest a weeks period of habituation for sampling a small cavity nesting owl like Otus flammeolus. Nevertheless, detailed photographic records were made and maintained from the time of egg laying to fledging of chicks.
The following measurements were taken following Ali & Ripley (1987); only the right tarsus and wing were measured as a matter of convenience.
Wing length (cm): From the carpal joint to the longest feather along the upper side of the wing. In case of very young birds the wing was pressed out on a ruler, while wing chord was directly measured for older chicks.
Bill length (mm): From skull (lacrimal) to tip of premaxilla. Tarsus length (mm): From the tibiotarsal joint to the base of the middle toe.
Body weight (g): Measured using a portable digital balance accurate to 0.01g.
Differences in growth patterns between sexes were not examined because of the small sample size and difficulty in sexing the chicks.
Plumage descriptions are after Humphrey & Parkes (1959). To distinguish between chicks non-toxic coloured sprays were used on the birds under parts near the vent as these were least likely to show in photographs. We do not recommend banding of chicks as parents were observed tugging at plastic bands causing extreme discomfort to chicks.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Young grew rapidly during the first 20 days. Though there was steady monotonic growth throughout the observation period, each morphometric character differed significantly in its growth rate. For example, while bill length showed a steady, yet mild increase in length, the tarsus length recorded a steep increase till the 20 th day after which it flattened until the 40 th day before it picked up again (Fig 1). The rate of increase in wing chord length was uniform till the 60 th day (Fig 2). But body weight showed a steady increase till the 35 th day before reaching a plateau between the 35 th and 45 th day after which there was a marginal spurt in its growth rate (Fig 3). Our extended observations showed that the young completed their growth much later -i.e., over 90 days (when the maximum weight was recorded as 1,373.78g). Such alternate spurts and regression phases in growth factors of chicks make it unreliable to base ageing of nestlings solely on morphometric data. What could be the factors for such wide individual variations? Is it food availability and supply or predation threat or disturbance or is it a normal phenomenon? This would also require a large sample size to standardize ageing criteria. It is further compounded by the fact that the taxon exhibits decreasing clinal variations in body size from north to south (Ali & Ripley 1987).   A more reliable way to age young Bubo bengalensis are differences in feather morphology and this is evident from the photographic record: 1. Clutch of five eggs. Three to four is the usual clutch size, but five is not uncommon (Image 1).
2. Chick using egg tooth to break out of egg. The use of this feature is obvious -viz, to chip away the shell between the upper mandible and egg tooth (Image 2).
3. 0-5 day old nestlings. Eggs hatch asynchronously on most occasions. The nidicolous and semi-altrical young are covered in whitish natal down and their eyes are closed. They are semi-ptilopaedic as some parts (back, shoulders and belly) are bare, resulting in pink patches. Nestlings lie prostrate, the belly in contact with the substrate (Image 3).
4. Seven day old nestling. Pre-juvenile moult has begun and sheaths (pin feathers) are visible on the shoulders and wings. The eyes begin to open at 4 days and can be completely opened by this stage. The entire eye is grayish-black in colour (Image 4).
5. Five and 10 day old siblings. The difference in size is because of asynchronous hatching (5 days apart). At 10 days the belly begins to be covered in down and there is no sign of the egg tooth (Image 5).
6. 15 day old nestling. The woolly prejuvenile moult is in progress, though parts of the belly are still bare of feathers. A yellow iris is obvious around the grayish-blue pupil. Ear tufts begin their development. It can adopt the intimidatory posture if threatened, though in a weak manner (Image 6).
7. 20 day old nestling. The entire body is covered in juvenile plumage. The iris is larger and darker (darkness increases with age). Feet and claws start to resemble an adults. They start to emit a harsh growling hiss like call (Image 7).
8. 25 and 30 day old siblings. At 25 days (subject on the right) the streaked aspect is noticeable. Vibrissa begins to appear. At 30 days (subject on the left) the first streaked appearance is more pronounced (Image 8). The black mask rim appears. Although the elder will continue to be larger, there is not the vast difference in size as was in evidence in Image 5. 9. 35 day old brancher. The aspect is more like that of an adult due to the eruption of brownish juvenile plumage due to the first prebasic moult. The facial mask is well defined and ear tufts pronounced. Remiges and retrices are well in evidence and form a horizontal bar along the wings. At this stage they move out of the nest and roost away from it. The primaries are well developed and if disturbed they throw themselves off the rock face and glide away making collecting morphometric  11. 45 days. The first prebasic moult is advanced and the aspect is more like an adult, especially around the nape, facial mask and wings (Image 11).
12. 50 days. First basic plumage is visible on the breast. Wings appear separated in clearly defined bands. A pale downy band contrasts markedly between dark secondaries and upper coverts (Image 12).
13. 55 days. The contrasting downy area on the wings has nearly been replaced (Image 13).
14. 60 days. The undersides are still covered with juvenile down and first basic plumage feathers erupt on the neck and back. The downy underparts contrast markedly with adults, the ear tufts are smaller and iris lighter (Image 14).