Journal of Research in Biology
Journal of Research in Biology
ISSN No: Print: 2231 –6280; Online: 2231- 6299
An International Scientific Research Journal
Short Communication
The birds of Patan district of Gujarat, India Authors: Patel KB1 and Swami AN2
ABSTRACT: Study on the birds of Patan district was conducted during 2006-2008. Observations on bird species were recorded at two locations in each Taluka. Observations on breeding status, residential status, and utilization of site by various species, foraging guild and flocking habit were recorded by frequent visit of each site during study period. In Institution: all 141 bird species found in the Patan district, majority of them being regular breeder 1. Department of Zoology, Sheth M.N. Science College, (88=62.41%), followed by irregular resident (22=15.60%), regular migrant bird species (14=9.93%) and more or less equal number of irregular migrant bird species (13=9.22%) Patan-384265 (Gujarat). were noted in Patan district, whereas, only three bird species were irregular breeder and Rosy Starling, Sturnus roseus was the only species found to be transient. It was also 2. Department of Physics revealed that majority of bird species used the site under observation for foraging Sheth M. N. Science (96=68.09%) followed by foraging and nesting (17=12.06%) and foraging and cover College, Patan – 384265 (9=6.38%). None of the bird species recorded used the site solely either as cover or for Gujarat - India. roosting or nesting. Majority of bird species (77 = 54.61%) were ground forager, followed by ear head gleaner (12 = 8.51%), hawkers (10 = 7.09%), 51 species of birds (36.17%) preferred Corresponding author: to live in group and only 10 species exhibited both solitary as well as group flocking habit. Patel KB
Keywords: Birds, Patan, Habit. ABBREVIATIONS a. b. c. d. e.
Email: .
Residency status: RB = Regular Breeder; IB = Irregular Breeder; IM = Irregular Migrant; IR = Irregular Resident; RM = Regular Migrant; TR = Transient. (from north India or Palaearctic region) Utilization: C = Cover; F = Foraging; N = Nesting; R=Roosting. Foraging guild: Gd = Ground foraging; Eg = Earhead gleaner ; Fg = Foliage gleaner; H = Hawking; Pb = Probing wet mud; Pl = Pluunge fishing; P-S = Perch-to-site forage; Sy = Sally. Flocking habit: S = Solitary; G = Group
Article Citation: Patel KB and Swami AN. The birds of Patan district of Gujarat, India Journal of research in Biology (2017) 7(1): 2167-2176 Dates: Received: 21 Nov 2016
Web Address: http://jresearchbiology.com/ documents/RA0209.pdf. Journal of Research in Biology An International Scientific Research Journal
Accepted: 28 Dec 2016
Published: 02 Feb 2017
This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
2167-2176 | JRB | 2017 | Vol 7| No 1
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Patel and Swami, 2017 INTRODUCTION Gujarat State is situated on the western cost of India. Study area is selected within Gujarat State (Figure 1). The north Gujarat area is well known as a land of agriculture having very few natural forest lands. Patan district is located in northern part of the state. It is located 230 41’ to 230 55’ latitude and 710 31’ to 720 20’ longitude. It is surrounded by Banaskantha district to its north and north-east, Mehsana to its south and south-east and Kachchh district (Little Rann of Kachchh) by southwest. Geographical area of district is 6.37 lakhs ha. The district is situated in the semi-arid zone and suffering from low water supply. The average annual rainfall in the district is 876 mm. It is strongly periodic and seasonal. Total of 453 species of birds belonging to 65 families
have
been
listed
from
Gujarat
state
(Anonymous, 1999) recent record is 494 species. This Record is updated by Dr. Parasharya BM. Bird
Figure 1. Patan district map showing Taluka wise study sites
conservation Society Gujarat in 2004 and the recent
agriculture is exceptionally old issue, however right now
record is 526.
the greater part of the farmers are similarly mindful of
Patan district of north Gujarat region is
the double role of birds as one of the critical biological
concerned, no such published information is available in
control agents of insect pests of rural yields. Different
literature. In past Acharya (2003) has studied bird
investigations with respect to depredatory habits of birds
diversity in wetland area of Visnagar taluka of Mehsana
to crop have been made. On the other hand, most of them
district, whereas, Vyas (2005) has reported bird fauna of
are equally useful to crop as bio-control agent of insect
urban area of Visnagar.
pests. It is not true, All India ornithology project is
Birds creatures constitute an vital component of
sponsored by ICAR executed in Agricultural Universities
agroecosystem. Agriculture gives a concentrated and
of India, and is studying this aspect throughout India
very unsurprising source of food to birds (Oaeconnor and
since last couple of decades. It is not an easy job to state
Shrubb, 1986). Many birds revealed as pest to the
which species is harmful and which is useful to crop. A species useful at one place may be neutral at the other or
Table 2. Residency status of birds found in Patan district S. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 2168
Residency status of birds RB=Regular Breeder IB=Irregular Breeder RM=Regular Migrant IM=Irregular Migrant IR=Irregular Resident TR= Transient Total
Frequency 88 3 14 13 22 1 141
Percent 62.41 2.13 9.93 9.22 15.60 0.71 100.00
even harmful at some other place depending of on agroecosystem.
It
is
necessary
to
study
the
agroecosystem of Patan district, prepare inventory of birds found in this district (Table 1). MATERIAL AND METHODS The survey of birds population was made by frequent visits to all the sites of Patan district during Journal of Research in Biology (2017) 7(1): 2167-2176
Patel and Swami, 2017 Table 3. Utilization of site by various birds species in Patan district S. No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Utilization of site for C=Cover F=Foraging N=Nesting R=Roosting FN=Foraging and nesting FC= Foraging and cover FR= Foraging and roosting FNC= Foraging, nesting and cover FNCR= Foraging, nesting, cover and roosting Total
Frequency 0 96 0 0 17 9 7 7 5 141
majority
of
Percent 0 68.09 0 0 12.06 6.38 4.97 4.97 3.55 100
2006 - 08. General observations of various types of
district,
them
were
regular
birds were recorded covering various parameters like
breeder (88=62.41%), followed by irregular resident
status, occurrence, breeding etc. Identification of
(22=15.60%). There are 14 regular migrant bird species
different species of birds was carried out by noting down
(9.93%) and more or less equal number of irregular
the various characters and with the help of keynotes from
migrant bird species (13=9.22%) were noted in Patan
the standard book (Ali, 1979).
district, whereas, only three bird species were irregular breeder and Rosy Starling, Sturnus roseus was the only 1 species found to be transient (Table 2).
RESULTS The paper gives an account of the avian fauna of
Utilization of site
Patan district. My study shows that the area is inhibited by
The results presented in Table 3 revealed that
more than 141 different types of birds belonging to
majority of bird species used the site under observation
different species, genera and families. The avian fauna is
for foraging (96=68.06%) followed by foraging and
rich and majority of the birds are residents of the area
nesting (17=12.06%) and foraging and cover (9=6.38%).
studied.
Seven species of birds used the sites either for foraging
Residency status of birds
and roosting or foraging, nesting and cover (7=4.97)
Out of total 141 bird species found in Patan Table 4. Various types of foraging guilds used by birds in Patan district S. No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Foraging guild Gd=Ground foraging Eg=Earhead gleaner Fg=Foliage gleaner H=Hawking Pb=Probing wet mud Pf=Plunge fishing Ps=Perch to site forage
Sy=Sally H,Ps Pb, Gd Gd, H Gd, Eg Ps, Sy Fg, Ed Total
Frequency 77 12 9 10 0 1 10 4 6 3 1 3 3 1 141
Percent 54.61 8.51 6.38 7.09 0 0.71 7.09 2.84 4.26 1.42 0.71 1.42 1.42 0.71 100
Journal of Research in Biology (2017) 7(1): 2167-2176
and only five species used it
for foraging, nesting,
roosting and as cover. None of the bird species recorded used the site solely either as cover or for roosting or nesting. Foraging guilds Table 4 shows that the results further revealed that majority of bird species (77=54.61%) were ground forager, followed by ear head gleaner (12 = 8.51%), hawkers (10 = 7.92%), perch to site foragers was Table 5. Flocking habit of bird species found in Patan district S. No 1 2 3
Flocking habit S=Solitary G=Group S, G Total
Frequency 80 51 10 141
Percent 56.74 36.17 7.19 100 2169
Patel and Swami, 2017 Table 1. Taxonomic composition and ecological characteristics of the birds found in Patan district Bird (Scientific Name) Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax. niger Darter Anhinga melanogaster Grey Heron Ardea cinerea BIack-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii Great Egret Casmerodius albus Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia Little Egret Egretta garzetta Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala White-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus Black-Headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus Black Ibis Pseudibis papillosa Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia Lesser Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna javanica Common Teal Anas Crecca Gadwall Anas strepera Garganey Anas querquedula Northern Shoveller Anas clypeata Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
Residency status
Utilization
Foraging guild
Flocking habit
RB
F
Gd
S, G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
S, G
RB
F
RB
F
Gd
RB
F
Gd
RM
F
Gd
RB
F
Gd
S
F
Gd
S, G
F
Gd
S
IR
F
Gd
S, G
RB
F
Gd
G
RM
F
Gd
G, S
RB
F
Gd
G, S
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
RB
F
Gd
F
Gd
F
Gd
F
Gd
RB RB
RM RM RM RM RB RM
Gd
S, G S S S
G G G G G
F
Gd
F
Gd F
H
G G S Continued...
2170
Journal of Research in Biology (2017) 7(1): 2167-2176
Patel and Swami, 2017 Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus Black Kite Milvus migrans Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Shikra Accipiter badius White-eyed Buzzard Butastur teesa Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax Red-headed Vulture Sarcogyps calvus Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Whitebreasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Common Coot Fulica atra Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Ruff Philomachus pugnax River Tern Sterna aurantia Yellow-legged Green Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera Blue-Rock Pigeon Columba livia Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
RM
F
H
S
RM
F
H
S
RB
F
H
S
RB
F
PS
S
RB
F
HPS
RB
F
HPS
S S S
RB
F
HPS
RB
F
HPS
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
FNCR
Gd
S
RB
FNCR
Gd
S
RB
FNCR
Gd
S
IR
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
FR
Gd
S
FR
PbGd
S, G
FR
PbGd
G
RB
FR
PbGd
S, G
RB
FR
GdH
RB
F
Gd
S
RB
F
Gd
S
RB
F
Gd
S
RB
F
Gd
S
RB
F
Gd
S
RB
F
Gd
S, G
RB
F
Gd, Eg
G
RM RM
S
S
Continued... Journal of Research in Biology (2017) 7(1): 2167-2176
2171
Patel and Swami, 2017 Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea Greater Coucal Centro pus sinensis Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo Spotted Owlet Athene brama House Swift Apus affinis Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smymensis Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops .persicus Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Common Hoopoe Upupa epops Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala Black-Rumped Flameback Woodpecker Dinopium benghalense Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis Indian Bush Lark Mirafra erythroptera Oriented Skylark Alauda gulgula Rufous-tailed Lark Ammomanes phoenicura Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix grisea Plain Martin Riparia paludicola Dusky Crag Martin Hirundo concolor Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Baybacked Shrike Lanius vittatus Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis 2172
RB
F
PS
S
RB
F
PS
S
RB
F
PS
S
RB
F
H,PS
S
RB
F
H,PS
S
RB
F
H
RB
F
PI
S
RB
F
PS
S
RB
F
SY
S
RB
F
SY
S
RB
F
PS
S
RM
F
Gd
S
RM
F
PS
S
RB
F
PS
S
RB
F
PS
S
IR
FN
Gd
S
IR
FN
Gd
S
IR
FN
Gd
S
IR
FN
Gd
S
IR
F
H
G
IR
F
H
G
RM
F
H
G
IR
F
H
G
IR
F
H
G
IR
F
PS,SY
S
IR
F
PS,SY
S
IR
F
PS,SY
G
S Continued...
Journal of Research in Biology (2017) 7(1): 2167-2176
Patel and Swami, 2017 Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens Rosy Starling Sturnus roseus Brahminy Starling Sturnus pagodarum Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus Rufous TreePie Dendrocitta vagabunda House Crow Corvus splendens Large billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Blackheaded Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina melanoptera Common wood shrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus Large Cuckoo Shrike Coracina macei Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Common Iora Aegithina tiphia Marshall’s Iora Aegithina nigrolutea Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis (P.leucotis) Red-brested Flycatcher Ficedula parva Whitebrowed Fantail Rhipidura aureola Yelloweyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense Common Babbler Turdoides caudatus Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi Zitting cisticola Cisticola juncidis Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
IR
F
Gd
S
RB
F
SY
S
IR
F
SY
S
Trans
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
IR
F
Gd
S
RB
F
Gd
G
IR
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
S
RB
F
Gd
S
RB
F
Gd
S
IR
F
Gd
S
IR
FR
PS
S
IR
FR
PS
S
RB
F
Gd,Eg
S
RB
F
Gd,Eg
S
RB
FNCR
Fg
S
RB
FNCR
Fg
S
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
F
Gd
G
RB
FNC
Fg
S
RB
FNC
Fg
S Continued...
Journal of Research in Biology (2017) 7(1): 2167-2176
2173
Patel and Swami, 2017 Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis Rufousfronted Prinia" Prinia buchanani Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica Grey brested Prinia Prinia hodgsonii Comon Tailor Bird Orthotomus sutorius Clamorous Reed Warbler Acrocephalus stentoreus Indian Robin Saxicoloides fulicata Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Isabelline Wheatear Oenanthe isabellina Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti Variable Wheatear Oenanthe picata White naped Tit Parus nuchalis Paddyfield Pipit Anthus Rufulus TreePipit Anthus trivialis Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris White Wagtail Motacilla alba Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea White Browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus House Sparrow Passer domesticus Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia xanthocollis Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
RB
FNC
Fg
S
RB
FNC
Fg
S
RB
FNC
Fg
S
RB
FNC
Fg
S
RB
FC
Fg
S
IM
FC
Gd
S
RB
FC
Gd
S
RB
FC
Gd
S
IM
FC
Gd
S
IM
FC
Gd
S
IM
FC
Gd
S
IM
FC
Gd
S
RB
FC
Gd
S
IB
FN
Gd
S
IB
FN
Gd
S
IB
FN
Gd
S
IM
FN
Gd
G
IM
FN
Gd
G
IM
FN
Gd
G
IM
FN
Gd
G
IM
FN
Gd
G
RB
FN
Eg
S
RB
FN
Eg
S
RB
F
Gd
G
IR
FN
Gd
S
RB
FN
Fg, Ed
G Continued...
2174
Journal of Research in Biology (2017) 7(1): 2167-2176
Patel and Swami, 2017 Continued... Red Avadavat Amandava amandava Green Avadavat Amandava formosa White-throated Munia Euodice malabarica White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata Blackheaded Munia Lonchura kelaarti Scaly breasted munia Lonchura punctulata House Bunting Emberiza striolata Grey-hooded Bunting Emberiza buchanani Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala Red-headed Bunting Emberiza bruniceps
RB
FNC
Eg
G
RB
F
Eg
G
RB
F
Eg
G
RB
F
Eg
G
RB
FN
Eg
G
RB
F
Eg
G
IR
F
Eg
G
IM
F
Eg
G
IM
F
Eg
G
IM
F
Eg
G
resorting to plunge fishing. Among combination of
A large number of tall trees like sisu (Dalbergia
foraging guilds, hawking and perch to site foragers
sissoo),
mango(Mangifera
indica),
banyan
(Ficus
constituted the largest group(6 = 4.26).
benghalensis) and peepal (Ficus religiosa), etc. are
Flocking habits
scattered all over the district. The main trees that cover
According to Table 5 the results also indicated
the district area are Azadirachta indica (Limbdo),
three types of flocking habit of the birds, out of which
Acacia Arabica (Baval), Ficus religiosa (Pimpalo),
most of the species lived solitary life, whereas, 51
Delonix regia (Gulmohar), Eugenia jambolana (Jambu),
species of birds (36.17%) preferred to live in group
Zizyphus jujube (Bor), Mangifera indica (Ambo), Moringa
and only 10 species exhibited both solitary as well as
oleifera (Sargavo),
group flocking habit.
other shrubs and trees. Many of the above trees are used
Salvadora percica (Vakhado) and
by birds as nesting places as they are tall and leafy, without thorns. Many Neem trees are crowned with nests
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The inhabitants of the Patan city have arrived
of crows. The mixed vegetation of dominating trees,
from surrounding villages and basically deal in
flowering
agriculture. Several species of crop plants are cultivated.
neighboring water sources give a healthy environment to
The grassland is short lived and the foliage period is
the birds and thus substantial groups and many birds can be
limited to the monsoon months only. There is a deciduous
noted. Common Myna, Yellow Footed green Pigeon and
forest area nearer to this zone. The vegetation in open
Egrets, and so on are perched on shadow lengthened trees.
stabilized soil soon after the rains is abundant in a form of
The birds are settled on this tree for the night to the
grasses and other species. Leucas aspera,
Tridex
accompaniment of a great deal of cacophony. Blue Rock
procumbens, Celosia argentia, Euphorbia hirta and
Pigeon and Indian Ring Dove are granivorous birds and
Amaranthus spp. etc. are common weeds. Meaning is
they damaged sown seeds of sesamum and sorghum.
not clear reform the sentence.
Indian Black Ibis feed on groundnut in harvested fields.
Journal of Research in Biology (2017) 7(1): 2167-2176
shrubs
and
bushes,
open territory and
2175
Patel and Swami, 2017 Indian Peafowl feed on tender leaves and flowers of cucumber, ground nut and cotton. Roseringed Parakeet feed on fruits of chilly and millet crops. Trees provided perching sites for feeding to Parakeets. Trees might also have provided nesting sites to them. Trees of Khijado (Prosopis cineraria) in the middle or along the borders of fields provided shelter to small passerines; these fields also suffered heavy damage. Baya weaver birds performed dual role as its feed upon larvae of insects of different crops but damaging leaves of sorghum for nest construction. It also used leaf blades of weeds for the nest. Common Myna, Bank Myna, Common Babbler and Rosy Pastor are feeding on insect pest of various crops. REFERENCES Acharya CA. (2003). Ecological study on wetland birds at semi-arid condition of tropical farming area around Visnagar-North Gujarat, Ph.D. Thesis, North Gujarat University, Patan. Ali S. (1979). The book of Indian Birds, BNHS, Bombay. Anonymous (1999). Report on Biological diversity of Gujarat. Gujarat Ecological Commission, Vadodara, India. 7-9. Oaeconnor R and Shrubb M. (1986). Farming and birds Ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Vyas BM. (2005). Ecological study on urban birds at Visnagar
city–North
Gujarat,
Ph.D.
Thesis,
Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan.
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