Nesting pattern of birds in Jahangirnagar University Campus, Bangladesh
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Based on a study on nesting behavior conducted in Jahangirnagar University Campus between 2009 and 2011 brief descriptions are given of nest site preferences in a diverse habitat, variation in nest shape against height above ground, and materials used for constructing nests in different tree species. The study found that April is the peak time for nesting due to food availability. High competition for tree holes as nest sites forced some species to build nests in unusual sites, for example Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri, Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra, Common Myna Acridotheres tristis, and Jungle Myna A. fuscus, Oriental Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis showed better adaptation to the campus environment than other birds. Predation risk was found to be higher for non-hole nests than for hole nests. To minimize predation pressure, birds were seen to adopt passive protection by making false nests and constructing well-camouflaged nests. Besides predation, human disturbance was observed on low height nests in roadside vegetation resulting in breeding failure. Reducing human disturbance is needed if birds are to achieve better reproductive success in the campus. The most commonly used trees were Albizia spp. (native or long naturalized species) whereas no nest was found in Eucalyptus spp. and only a few nests were found in Acacia moniliformes, both are exotic trees which have been planted in huge numbers in the campus, indicating that birds do not prefer exotic tree species for nesting. It is recommended to plant more native tree species, which may also help birds to nest in usual sites rather than unusual sites (such as electrical pillars, electrical boxes, air conditioner boxes, and building holes). Regular monitoring in support of native tree planting and raising awareness to reduce disturbance, could enhance the successful reproduction of birds in Jahangirnagar University Campus. Finally, an update to the avifauna of the campus is presented, with 17 species added in this study or from other recent reports, bringing the total to 195 species, including one globally ‘Near Threatened’ species, the Brown-winged Kingfisher Pelargopsis amauroptera.Â
Article Details
Authors own the copyright to the articles published in JoTT. This is indicated explicitly in each publication. The authors grant permission to the publisher Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society to publish the article in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The authors recognize WILD as the original publisher, and to sell hard copies of the Journal and article to any buyer. JoTT is registered under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY), which allows authors to retain copyright ownership. Under this license the authors allow anyone to download, cite, use the data, modify, reprint, copy and distribute provided the authors and source of publication are credited through appropriate citations (e.g., Son et al. (2016). Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the southeastern Truong Son Mountains, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(7): 8953–8969. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2785.8.7.8953-8969). Users of the data do not require specific permission from the authors or the publisher.
References
Akhter, S., M.M. Kabir, M.K. Hasan & S. Begum (2007). Activity pattern of Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudies) at Jahangirnagar University Campus. Bangladesh Journal of Life Science 19(1): 49–58.
Baker, J.R. (1938). The evolution of breeding seasons, pp. 161–177. In: de Beer, G.R. (eds.) Evolution: Essays on Aspects of Evolutionary Biology. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Begum, S. (2001). Pair-formation displays of the Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii grayii). Journals of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Science 27(1): 59–66.
Begum, S. (2002). Food and feeding behavior of Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii grayii) of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Life Science 14(1&2): 87–93.
Begum, S. (2003). Colonial nesting behavior in Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii grayii) of Bangladesh. Zoos’ Print Journal 18(6): 1113–1116; http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.ZPJ.18.6.1113-6
Begum, S., M.A. Islam & M.M. Feeroz (1993). A comparative study of breeding activities of Common Myna and Pied Myna. Bangladesh Journal of Life Science 5: 23–33.
Begum, S., M.A. Islam & M.M. Feeroz (1994). Study of breeding activities of Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnontus cafer cafer) at Jahangirnagar University Campus. Journal of Jahangirnagar University, Science. 18: 185–191.
Begum, S., A. Moksnes, E. Røskaft & B.G. Stokke (2011). Factors influencing host nest use by the brood parasitic Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea). Journal of Ornithology 152(3): 793–800.
BirdLife International (2016). Species factsheets. BirdLife International, Cambridge UK.
BirdLife International (2017). Species factsheet: Pelargopsis amauroptera. http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/Brown-winged-Kingfisher
Cramp, S., R. Douthwaite, H. Reyer & K. Westerturp (1988). Ceryle rudis (Linnaeus). Pied Kingfisher. Alcyon pie, pp. 299–302. In: Fry, H., S. Keith & E. Urban (eds.). The Birds of Africa - Vol. 3. Academic Press, San Diego.
Feeroz, M.M., A.A. Zaved & M.A. Islam (1988). A checklist of medicinal plants, freshwater organisms and vertebrate fauna of the Jahangirnagar University Campus. Bangladesh Journal of Life Science 1(1): 65–85.
Gajera, N., S.M. Dave & N.A. Dharaiya (2009). Neating patterns of some terrestrial birds in Danta Forest Range, northern Gujrat, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 1(3): 170–173; http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o1757.170-3
Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp (1999a). Pocket Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, New York.
Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp & T. Inskipp (1999b). A Guide to the Birds of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Christopher Helm Ltd, London.
Hossain, A.B.M.E., S.A. Khan & M.A. Islam (1995). An inventory of plant diversity in relation to ecology and environment of Jahangirnagar University: vegetational composition and their taxonomic identity. Bangladesh Journal of Life Science 7: 95–103.
IUCN Bangladesh (2015). Red List of Bangladesh Volume 3: Birds. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh, xvi+676pp.
Jahan, I., D.K. Das & M.M.H. Khan (2016). Nesting behaviour of Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus and Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus at Jahangirnagar University Campus, Savar, Bangladesh. BirdingASIA 26: 84–86.
Khan, M.M.H., M.M. Kabir & M.A. Islam (1999). The breeding behavior of Spotted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) in captivity. Bangladesh Journal of Life Science 11(1&2): 27–30.
Kushlan, J.A. (1983). Pair formation behavior of the Galapagos Lava Heron Butorides striatus/sundevalli. Wilson Bulletin 95(1): 118–121.
Lack, D. (1965). Evolutionary ecology. Journal of Applied Ecology 2(2): 247–255.
Mohsanin, S. & M.M.H. Khan (2009). Status and seasonal occurrence of the birds in Jahangirnagar University campus. Bangladesh Journal of Life Science 21(1): 29–37.
Sultana, S., S. Begum & M.M. Feeroz (2004). Comparative study on breeding activities of three wetland birds. Bangladesh Journal of Life Science 16(2): 67–73.
Thompson, P.M., W.G. Harvey, D.L. Johnson, D.J. Millin, S.M.A. Rashid, D.A. Scott, C. Stanford & J.D. Woolner (1993). Recent notable bird records from Bangladesh. Forktail 9: 13–44.
Thompson, P.M. & D.L. Johnson (2003). Further notable bird records from Bangladesh. Forktail 19: 85–102.
Tomiałojc´ L., T. Wesołowski & W. Walankiewicz (1984). Breeding bird community of a primaeval temperate forest (Białowie_za National Park, Poland). Acta Ornithologica 20(3): 242–312.
Welty, J.C. & L. Bapista (1988). The Life of Birds. Saunders College Publishing, New York.
Wesołowski, T. (1983). The breeding ecology and behaviour of Wrens Troglodytes troglodytes living under primaeval and secondary conditions. Ibis (International Journal of Avian Science) 125: 499–515.