Checklist and nesting patterns of avifauna in and around Mayiladuthurai region, Tamil Nadu, India

 

A. Mohamed SamsoorAli 1, S. Asokan 2, R. Manikannan 3 & P. Radhakrishnan4

 

1 New No.12, Old No. 3/10, New Street, Kollapuram, Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu 609608, India

2 Associate Professor, 3Lecturer, & 4Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous), Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu 609305, India

Email: 1 amsamsoor@yahoo.co.in (corresponding author), 2 beeasokan@gmail.com,3 manikannanr@yahoo.co.in, 4 samyradhakrishna@yahoo.co.in

 

 

Date of publication (online): 26 June 2011

Date of publication (print): 26 June 2011

ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print)

 

Editor: Ignacy Kitowski

 

Manuscript details:

Ms # o2299

Received 28 August 2009

Final revised received 01 May 2011

Finally accepted 12 May 2011

 

Citation: Ali, A.M.S., S. Asokan, R. Manikannan& P. Radhakrishnan (2011). Checklist and nesting patterns of avifauna in and around Mayiladuthurai region, Tamil Nadu, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(6): 1842–1850.

 

Copyright: © A. MohamedSamsoor Ali, S. Asokan, R. Manikannan & P. Radhakrishnan2011. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 UnportedLicense. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.

 

Acknowledgements:Authors are thankful to the Principal, the Management and the Head of the Department of Zoology & Wildlife Biology, A.V.C. College (Autonomous), Mannampandal, Mayiladuthurai for facilities and encouragements. We sincerely express our thanks to the Subject Editor and anonymous referees for their valuable comments on the manuscript.

 

 

Abstract:Seventy-five taxa of birds belonging to 41 families were recorded in the Mayiladuthurairegion, Tamil Nadu, India during January 2006 to December 2006.  Sixty-two species of these were residents and 13 were local migrants. Among the birds recorded in this study, about 26 species were insectivores and other dominating types included omnivores, predators, granivores and frugivores.  Breeding habits of 30 species were recorded, of five different nesting types, viz., cup nesters, cavity / hole nesters, platform nesters, pendant nesters and ground nesters.  The birds used a variety of nesting materials, mostly twigs, fibres, sticks, leaves and grasses for nest construction.  Thirteen species laid pure white eggs without any markings and nine species laid white eggs with various colourcombinations and markings.  Some species laid glossy blue, blue green, red and brown colouredeggs.

 

Keywords: Avifauna, eggs, nesting birds, nest types.

 

 

 

For images, tables -- click here

 

The Indian subcontinent has diverse avifauna with 1300 bird species (Grimmett et al. 1999). Recently there is an increased awareness of the need to prepare checklists of birds on a wider scale, although such work is often confined to sanctuaries and forest ranges (Kannan 1998; Mahabal 2000).  Collective checklists of birds for specific regions like lakes (Sahu & Rout 2005; Reginald et al. 2007), wetlands (Ravindran 1995; Sivaperuman & Jayson 2000), mangroves (Pandav 1997; Oswin1999), wildlife sanctuaries (Relton 1998; Mahabal 2000; Aravind et al. 2001; Chhangani 2002) and university campuses and institutes (Jayapal 1995; Sundar1998; Nameer et al.2000; Ramitha & Vijayalaxmi2001; Dookia 2002; Praveen & Joseph 2006) have also been published.

The information on checklists and nesting patterns of birds in Mayiladuthurai region is scattered.  A few reports that exist (Asokan 1998 a,b;Chandru & Asokan, 1999;Asokan et al. 2003, 2009b; Sivakumaran& Thiyagesan 2003; Neelanarayanan2007) are chiefly related to the population and feeding ecology of birds.  Barring a few observations on the nesting behaviour of birds (Thiyagesan 1991; Sivakumar & Jayabalan 2004; Asokan et al. 2008, 2009a) there are no detailed studies of their nesting patterns.  We present in this paper a detailed account of our observations on checklists and nesting patterns of avian species in Mayiladuthurai region.

 

Materials and Methods

Study area: The Mayiladuthurai Taluk is located on the Cauvery River bank between 18018’N and 79050’E in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India.  Agriculture is the major economics of this area, which contributes a high share of rice production to the state.  Sugarcane, groundnut, green gram, black gram, cotton, etc are the other major crops cultivated in this area.  The Cauvery River and its tributaries are major perennial water sources used for irrigation.  Woody vegetation is sparse in the form of groves and roadside trees.  The predominant tree species found in the study area are Coconut Cocos nucifera, Palm Borassus flabellifer, Iluppai Madhucaindica, Mango Mangiferaindica, Rain Tree Enterolobium saman, Tamarind Tamarindus indicus, Banyan Ficus benghalensis, Peepal Ficusreligiosa, Poovarasu Thespesia populnea, Karuvai Acacia arabica, Odhian Odina wodier and Neem Azadirachta indica. Important shrub species are Kattukaruvai Prosopis juliflora, Kattamani Jatropha glandulifera and Adathoda Adathoda visica.  Plantations of Casuarina Casuarina equisetifolia, TeakTectona grandis and Bamboo Bamboosa arundinacea are also found in the study area. Based on the northeast monsoon the study area is divided into four seasons viz., post-monsoon, summer, pre-monsoon and monsoon.  Summer ranges from April to June (with a mean maximum temperature of 380C) and the northeast monsoon between October and December.  The cold season starts in November and may last till January.

Bird survey: The checklist is primarily based on field work conducted in two habitats, viz., river banks (Cauvery River) and agricultural lands of Mayiladuthurai region from January 2006 to December 2006.  Birds were observed between 0500 and 0900 hr with the help of 7x50 field binoculars.  Birds sighted during the study period were categorized according to their status as residents and local migrants.  The identification of birds was done using field guides (Grimmett et al. 1999; Ali 2002).  The checklist was prepared using standardized common and scientific names by Manakadan& Pittie (2001).

Nesting patterns: The nesting behaviour study was carried out during January 2006 to July 2006, when most birds breed.  Nests were located and data on nest characteristics, eggs and nest sites were recorded with standard methodologies as described by Pettingill(1985) and Soni et al. (2004).  The photographs were taken with a NIKON Digital Camera.

 

Results and Discussion

A list of birds recorded from Mayiladuthurairegion and their common name, scientific name, vernacular name (Tamil) and feeding habits is reported in Table 1. The study reveals the occurrence of 75 species of birds belonging to 41 families and 13 orders.  Among the 13 orders, Passeriformes dominated the list with 35 species followed by Ciconiiformes, Cuculiformes and Coraciiformes with six species each; Falconiformeswith five species, Charadriiformes and Columbiformes with three species each; Galliformes,Strigiformes, Apodiformesand Piciformes with two species each; Podicipediformes, Gruiformes and Psittaciformes with one species each.  Out of the 75 species, 62 species were common residential birds and 13 species were local migrants.  The local migrants, viz., Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis, Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis, Asian Open-bill Stork Anastomus oscitans, Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, Pied Crested Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus, Small Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris, Indian Pitta Pitta brachyura, Common Swallow Hirundo rustica, Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica, Blyth’s Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum, Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi and Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus were recorded only in certain months of the year i.e. August–January.  Birds of diverse food habits were observed, viz., insectivores (26 species), omnivores (22 species), predators (16 species), granivores (8 species) and frugivores(3 species).

A greater diversity of avian species was recorded at the Cauvery River banks because of greater vegetation densities and food availability.  Along both sides of the river banks, many wooded tree species, scrub and bushy type stumpy vegetation were distributed and it provided roosting and nesting-sites for many bird species. A number of birds were recorded in the agricultural fields.  Paddy is the main crop of the study area and is cultivated round the year. Birds such as the Black Drongo, Indian Roller, Small Bee-eater, White-breasted Kingfisher, Common Myna, Pond Heron, egrets, etc., are very common birds in the agricultural lands and feed mostly on insects.  Such birds are useful in the control of injurious insects in various crops (Asokan et al. 2009b).

The number of species recorded in the present study was low when compared to some earlier studies in Tamil Nadu (Jayapal1995; Oswin 1999; Balasundaram& Rathi 2004; Reginald et al. 2007).  The present study was carried out on two selected habitats only, future studies will cover all the areas of Mayiladuthurai regions and list more numbers of avian species.

In total, 30 species belonging to 22 families were recorded nesting in the study area (Table 2; Image 1).  A total of 125 nests were recorded during the study period and the highest number of nests observed were of the Common Myna (n=16) followed by the Small Bee-eater (n=15) and the White-breasted Kingfisher (n=9). Five different kinds of nesting patterns, viz., cup nesters (11 spp.), cavity / hole nesters (10 sp.), platform nesters (5 sp.), pendant nesters (3 sp.) and ground nester (1 sp.) were recorded.

The birds used a variety of nesting materials for nest construction and most preferred soft fibres, grasses, twigs, sticks and leaves (Table 2).  The Common Mynaused more than five different varieties of nesting materials (twigs, roots, leaves, polythene, bird feathers and snake skin) for nest construction. Birds such as the Red-wattled Lapwing, Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-breasted Kingfisher, Small Bee-eater and Indian Roller did not use nesting materials and the Barn Owl laid its eggs on regurgitated pellets (Table 2).

Nest construction and placement are correlated with the breeding season, suitable nest sites, nesting materials availability, food availability and predator’s interaction (Dial 2003).  In the present study 11 species constructed cup nests with various materials and in a variety of locations (trees, bushes and shrubs).  Many passerines and a few non-passerines (White-breasted Waterhen and Palm Swift) built this type of nest. Cavity / hole nests were used by numerous bird species and most bred either in natural tree holes / cavities and holes in walls or buildings.  Some birds, such as the Rose-ringed Parakeet constructed their own nests and are referred to as primary cavity nesters. Species that use natural cavities / holes constructed by primary cavity nesters are called secondary cavity nesters (mynas, roller, robins, spotted owlet). The White-breasted Kingfisher and the Small Bee-eater areburrow nesting species and they dig a horizontal tunnel into sandy river banks, with a chamber at the tunnel’s end to house the eggs.  Platform nests were constructed by one raptor (Black Kite), two Columbiformes (Blue Rock Pigeon and Spotted Dove) and two crow species (House and Jungle crows).  The Columbiformesconstructed simple platform nests with small sticks and fibres.  The Blue Rock Pigeon nests were man-made structures like temple towers and the Spotted Dove placed nests in small, thick vegetation and trees. The Black Kite and crows used strong sticks, fibres, roots, cloth, etc. and the nests were usually placed on  tree canopy.  The nests look like a jumble of materials, but the sticks are usually placed in layers, beginning with a triangle, followed by more rotated, triangular layers.  The pendant nests were constructed by the Baya Weaver, Streaked Weaver and Purple-rumped Sunbirds.  Pendant nests are elongated sacs woven of pliable materials such as grasses and soft plant fibres.  The BayaWeaver mostly preferred Palm trees for nest construction and the Streaked Weaver preferred swampy and rain flooded areas, particularly where there were reeds and tall grasses.  The Red-wattled Lapwing laid eggs in open bare ground.

Most species laid pure white eggs or white with various colour combinations.  A few species laid blue or blue green, red and brown coloured eggs.  Generally white eggs are formed by calcium carbonate; the pigments biliverdin and its zinc chelate give a blue or green and protoporphyrin produces reds and browns as the ground colour (Kilner 2006).  Lack (1968) stated that egg colour had no taxonomic significance, but that  did show a relationship with the type of nesting-site.  For example the hole nesting species tended to have immaculate white eggs, ground nesters surrounded by vegetation laid eggs of obscured brown, gray or olive, those nesting in forks of tree branches had eggs with blotches or shadow-marks on a white or blue background.

 

REFERENCES

 

Ali, S. (2002). The Book of Indian Birds (13thRevised Edition). Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 326pp.

Aravind, N.A., D. Rao & P.S. Madhusudan (2001). Additions to the birds of Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India. Zoos’ Print Journal 16(7): 541–547.

Asokan, S. (1998a). Studies on perch related characteristics of some insectivorous birds in Mayiladuthurai. Journal of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Monitoring 8(2): 145–151.

Asokan, S. (1998b). Food and feeding habits of the small Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis in Mayiladuthurai. Journal of Ecobiology10(3): 199–204.

Asokan, S., A.M.S. Ali & R. Manikannan(2009a). Nest-site selection and nestling growth patterns of the Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766). Geobios 36: 65–70.

Asokan, S., A.M.S. Ali & R. Manikannan (2009b). Diet of three insectivorous birds in NagapattinamDistrict, Tamil Nadu, India - a preliminary study. Journal of Threatened Taxa 1(6): 327–330.

Asokan, S., A.M.S. Ali & R. Nagarajan(2008). Studies on nest construction and nest microclimate of theBaya Weaver Ploceus philippinus(Linn.). Journal of Environmental Biology29(3): 393–396.

Asokan, S., K. Thiyagesan & R. Nagarajan (2003). Studies on Merops orientalisLatham 1801 with special reference to its population in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu. Journal of Environmental Biology24(4): 477-482.

Balasundaram, C. & S. Rathi (2004). Avifaunal diversity of Tiruverumbur Taluk, Tamil Nadu. Zoos’ Print Journal 19(3): 1417–1421.

Chandru, G. & S. Asokan (1999). Studies on the population and habitat utilization pattern of some birds of agriculture importance in and around Mannampandalarea. Journal of Eco-Physiology 2(4): 105–108.

Chhangani, A.K. (2002). Avifauna of KumbhalgarhWildlife Sanctuary, in the Aravalli hills of Rajasthan. Zoos’ Print Journal17(4): 764–768.

Dial, K.P. (2003). Evolution of avian locomotion: correlates of flight style, locomotors modules, nesting biology, body size, development and the origin of flapping flight. Auk 120: 941–952.

Dookia, S. (2002). A checklist of birds of New Campus, J.N.V. University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Zoos’ Print Journal 17(9): 883–885.

Grimmet, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp (1999). Pocket guide to the Birds of Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.384pp.

Jayapal, V.R. (1995). Birds of Annamalai University Campus, T.N. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 35(1): 7–10.

Kannan, R. (1998). Avifauna of the Anaimalai Hills (Western Ghats) of southern India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 95(2): 193–214.

Kilner, R.M. (2006). The evolution of egg colour and patterning in birds. Biological Review 81: 383–406.

Lack, D. (1968). Ecological adaptations for breeding in birds. Methuen, London, 409pp.

Mahabal, A. (2000). Birds of Talra Wildlife Sanctuary in lower western Himalaya, H.P. with notes on their status and altitudinal movement. Zoos’ Print Journal 15(10): 334–338.

Manakadan, R. & A. Pittie (2001). Standardized common and scientific names of the birds of the Indian subcontinent. Buceros 6(1): 1–37.

Nameer, P.O., R.Resminair, K.R. Anoop, S.G. Nair, R. Leksmi, & P. Radhakrishnan(2000). Birds of Kerala Agriculture University Campus, Thrissur. Zoos’ Print Journal 15(4): 243–246.

Neelanarayanan, P. (2007). Diet of barn owl Tyto alba stertens Hartert 1929 in a portion of Cauvery Delta, Tamil Nadu, India. Zoos’ Print Journal 22(8): 2777–2781.

Oswin, D.S. (1999). Avifaunal diversity in Muthupetmangrove forest. Zoos’ Print Journal 14(6): 47–53.

Pandav, B. (1997). Birds of Bhitarkanikamangroves, eastern India. Forktail 12: 7–17.

Pettingill, O.S. Jr. (1985). Ornithology in Laboratory and Field. Academic Press, London, 403pp.

Praveen, J. & J.K. Joseph (2006). A checklist of birds of the National Institute Technology Campus, Kozhikode, Kerala. Zoos’ Print Journal21(6): 2298–2300.

Ramitha, M. & K.K. Vijayalaxmi (2001). A checklist of birds in and around Mangalore University Campus, Karnataka. Zoos’ Print Journal16(5): 489–492.

Ravindran, P.K. (1995). The Kole Wetlands - an avian paradise in Kerala. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 35: 2–5.

Reginald, L.J., C. Mahendran, S.S. Kumar & P. Pramod (2007). Birds of SinganallurLake, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Zoos’ Print Journal 22(12): 2944–2948.

Relton, A. (1998). Threatened birds of KaraivettiBird Sanctuary, Tiruchirappalli, TamilNadu. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 38(2): 21–22.

Sahu, H.K. & S.D. Rout (2005). Checklist of water birds in MayurbhanjDistrict, Orissa. Zoos’ Print Journal 20(9): 1992–1993.

Sivakumar, S. & J.A. Jayabalan (2004). Observations on the breeding biology of Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus in Cauvery delta region. Zoos’ Print Journal 19(5): 1472–1474.

Sivakumaran, N. & K. Thiyagesan (2003). Population, diurnal activity patterns and feeding ecology of the Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis. Zoos’ Print Journal 18(5): 1091–1095.

Sivaperuman, C. & E.A. Jayson (2000). Birds of KoleWetlands, Thrissur, Kerala. Zoos’ Print Journal 15: 344–349.

Soni, V.C., P. Sharma, S.M. Dave, K. Bhalodia and V. Vijayakumar (2004).Nesting ecology of some terrestrial birds in Rajkot city (Gujarat). Journal of Current Bioscience2(1): 907–104.

Sundar, K.S.P. (1998). Birds of Pondicherry University Campus. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 38(2): 22–23.

Thiyagesan, K. (1991). Ecology of cavity nesting birds in and around Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, South India. PhD Thesis. BharathidasanUniversity, Thiruchirappalli (Unpublished).