Patterns of daily activities frequencies of Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) in Nikunja-1, Dhaka

Abstract

A non-intrusive study on Common Kingfisher was carried out at the waterbodies of Nikunja-1 located in Dhaka Metropolitan, Bangladesh, to investigate daily, monthly and seasonal patterns in key diurnal activities frequencies. Percentage of daily activity frequency was found highest for flying 22.17±3.51 followed by scanning 18.32±1.37, diving 14.63±0.70, local movement 11.51±2.15, resting 9.75±1.94, preening 8.83±1.17, calling 7.67±2.03 and feeding 7.12±1.34. Activity frequencies were significantly higher in morning than afternoon. Feeding, flying and calling varied significantly in different months and scanning, diving, flying and calling varied in different season. There was positive correlation among monthly average scanning and resting with temperature; scanning and flying with precipitation; calling with wind speed. Increased human’s presence and high traffic noise along waterbodies during afternoon were noticeable factors affecting day time variation in activities. Increased precipitation, temperature, high water depth and prey species abundance were apparent reasons for monthly and seasonal variations in activities.