Adaptations in avian nesting behavior in relation to indigenous trees and housing structures in Punjab

Abstract

The present study was carried out to know about the avian nesting behavior in relation to indigenous trees/shrubs/housing structures in two villages, viz; village Rampur Chhana (location I) and village Dargapur (location II) from April 2016 to March 2017. Selection of nesting sites, different nesting patterns and usage of different nesting materials of 15 bird species were recorded in both the selected locations. It was recorded that nesting site preferences of different bird species varied in relation to cultivated crops/ trees/shrubs/ornamental plants/ housing structures and nest predation at both the selected locations. Ten bird species were further found to utilize unusual materials such as plastic pieces, animal hair, pieces of cloth, toffee wrappers, wires, threads, safety pins and pieces of bangles in their nests. This study has generated information on avian nesting behavior in relation to indigenous trees/shrubs and other anthropogenic factors which could suggest measures to conserve avian fauna in farmlands.