“COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INSECTIVOROUS, PISCIVOROUS AVIAN FAUNA ON PADDY FIELD OF VENGOLA GRAMA PANCHAYATH”

RAHMATH T H

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY

MAR THOMA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

                                                                                          PERUMBAVOOR                                                                                         

            

          ABSTRACT

                   Birds are the good indicators of environmental quality. The present comparative study of insectivorous and piscivorous avian fauna on paddy field of Vengola Grama Panchayath recording 1036 individuals belongings to 19 families and 27 species.Duration of the study was December 2014 to May 2015 . Data collected twice in a month between 7.30 A.M to 9.30 A.M. Average number was taken for this study.The observation and identification was done with the help of binoculars or by their vocalization. In case of unfamiliar birds, identifying features were noted and later confirmed suitable experts and reference books. (“The Book of Indian Birds” by Salim Ali and  “Keralathilae  Pakshikal” by  Indhuchoodan).From the study on feeding habit of bird species, it was observed that majority of the bird species were insectivores. Out of 27 species of birds 15 were insectivores, 8 bird species were piscivores and 4 species of birds were both insectivores and piscivores.

             INTRODUCTION

Everything in natural world is connected. The water, temperature, air, soil, plants and animals all work together. All the parts work together to make a balance system.

Biodiversity means biological diversity is the term used to describe the variety of life found on earth and all of the natural process.

Biodiversity is the degree of variations of life. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems .The different aspect of biodiversity  all have a very strong influences on each other .It also helps us in our day to day lives.

Biologists most often define biodiversity as “the totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a region” In other words all life forms including plants, animals and microorganisms and their habitats together form biodiversity of the earth.

The feathers, the wings and beak are the important identifying features which make the birds distinct from other vertebrates.

 Forest birds may be insectivores, frugivores and nectarivores. Aquatic birds generally feed by fishing, plant eating, and piracy or kleptoparasitism .Birds of prey specialize in hunting mammals or other birds, while vultures are specialized scavengers. Avivores are animals that are specialized at predating birds.(http://wikipedia.org/wiki.birds)

Birds diets are varied and often include nectar, fruit, seeds, carrion and various small animals including other birds, because birds have no teeth, their digestive system is adapted to process unmasticated food items that are swallowed whole .Birds that employ many strategies to obtain food or feed on a variety of food items are called generalist, while others that concentrate time and effort on specific food items or have a single strategy to obtain food are considered specialists. Birds feeding strategies vary by species. Many birds glean for insects, invertebrates, fruit, or seed. (http://wikipedia.birds.org)

The following are the flight adaptation of birds are, shape , feathers, wings, tail, loss of weight, flight muscles ,air sacs, warm bloodnesss , efficient circulatory system ,excretion , vision ,perching, pneumatic  bones, synsacrum ,keel and furcula .(Thangamani  A, 2010)

IUCN (1971)defines wetlands as bodies of water of limited depth and waterfowl make it an important wetland site. Ramsar convention (1971) defines the wetlands as areas of marsh, fen, or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary with water that is static or flowing, fresh , brackish or saltish, including areas of marine water depth of which as low tides does not exceeds six meters.

Wetlands are among the most productive life support system in the world and are of immense socio-economic and ecological importance to mankind. (Sabu ,2009).

 Wetlands alone support 20% of the known range of biodiversity in India (Deepa and Ramachandran (1999).Wetlands in India occupy 58.2million hectares including areas under paddy cultivation (Directory of Indian Wetlands).The outstanding kinds of wetlands found in India consist of flood plains of important rivers, estuaries, saline, fresh water lakes, backwaters, mangroves, marshes, jheels, swamps and man-made water bodies like rice-farming fields and reservoirs of dams.

Wetlands are important bird habitats, which they used for breeding, nesting and rearing young ones. Birds also use wetlands as sources of drinking water and for feeding, resting and shelter for social interactions. The wetland loss has been responsible for bringing to the verge of extinction of countless species of animals and plants, which would be of great potential value as genetic resources, medicine and other industrial uses. The livelihood and culture of large number of people will be endangered if wetland resources become further depleted.

Wetlands of India are prominent as store house of aquatic biodiversity. However, present situation of India is that the wetlands are facing tremendous threat due to reclamation, industrialization, pollution and unlimited and unfair practices of aquaculture.

The total number of bird species known to science as inhabiting the earth today has been estimated as about 8600.If subspecies or geographical races are taken into account the figure would rise to nearly 30,000(Ali.S,1996).

The majority of the wetlands of  Kerala are brackish , however, there are also a few freshwater wetlands. Three wetlands of Kerala recently  included in the Ramsar site are the Vembanad Kole, Ashtamudi and Sasthamkotta (Sanal et al,2009).These wetlands act as productive ecosystem, which supports aquatic flora and fauna besides performing several ecological functions. The wetlands of Kerala are declining due to several reasons.

Agricultural ornithology aims at obtaining scientific information of birds in relation to agriculture and using this information for their management. Avifauna in agricultural landscape includes all kinds of birds namely granivores, frugivores, insectivores, carnivores, nectarivores, piscivores and omnivores. The dual role played by birds in agriculture is very well known. (Ali. S, 1949).

According to Connor and Shrubb (1986) rice fields provide concentrated and highly predictable source of food to many birds and several migratory birds use rice ecosystem as stop over or transit areas because of easy food availability. According  to Borad  et al (2000)  foraging activity of birds in harvesting rice fields help in reducing the inoculum load of insect pests and weeds by selectively feeding on them. We need to study in detail the population dynamics of birds in wetlands, because birds from marshy habitats could easily adopt themselves to rice habitat conditions..

Today an estimated 300 million birds belonging to more than 9000 species inhabit virtually every terrestrial habitat on the planet.

Birds are an important part of many functioning ecosystems because of their roles in seed dispersal, pollination and as both predator and prey (Gitay et al 2002).

The importance of wetlands to birds are because of the great variety of wetlands, bird adaptation to and use of wetland environment differs greatly from species to species

Of an bird feeding on fish refers piscivorous bird. Fish eating birds found along our reservoirs includes double crested cormorants, herons, gulls, teens and egrets etc (http://en.wikipedia.org.wiki/pisvivorous).

Piscivorous  diet includes largely of fish, mollusk, crustaceans. Piscivorous birds are equipped with specialized bills to capture fish either by spearing them with a sharp tip or catching them with ridged edges. Sharp, strong talons can also help some fish eating birds capture their prey. Many piscivorous birds will plunge dive from the air to capture their prey, while waders will stalk their prey carefully before spearing it. Depending on the bird species and size of the prey, the fish may be swallowed whole or ripped in to pieces for easier eating.

Of an  bird feeding on  insects refers to as insectivorous birds. Insectivores natural foods are termite, beetles, ants, mosquitoes, flies, moths, bugs, aphids, insect larvae, spiders, caterpillars,crickets and worms etc.

OBJECTIVES

·          To find out the avian diversity of the study area.

·          To classify the observed bird species into insectivorous, piscivorous and both.

METHODOLOGY

The present study was conducted to identify and classify the insectivorous and piscivorous  avian fauna of Valiyakulam paddy field. Valiyakulam paddy field located in Ward number 21 of Vengola Grama Panchayat,  Ernakulam district. The duration of the study was December 2014 to May 2015. Line transect method was adopted for the study. Data collected twice in a month between 7.30 A.M to 9.30 A.M. Average number is taken for this study.

The observation and identification was done with the help of binoculars or by their vocalization. In case of unfamiliar birds, identifying features were noted and later confirmed suitable experts and reference books. (“The Book of Indian Birds” by Salim Ali and  “Keralathilae  Pakshikal” by  Indhuchoodan.

Details regarding each bird observed were entered in the data sheet. Species and the number of individuals of each species observed were recorded. Birds were categorized based on their characteristics as resident, local migrant and migrant. Also categorized into insectivorous and  piscivores birds based on their feeding habits. Based on data a systematic checklist of the birds in the area and taxonomic account of each species were prepared. An analysis of population variation of birds was also carried out.

Data sheets were prepared and observations were tabulated. Month wise diversity index and relative frequency was calculated by using following formulas.

 Species diversity index=number of species

                                            √ Total number of individuals

   Relative frequency=Frequency of species *100

                                     Total frequency of all species

                                                                             (Odum , 1971&Sharma,2010)

 

OBSERVATION &RESULTS

The comparative study of insectivorous and piscivorous avian fauna on the paddy field was conducted over a period of 6 months (December – May). Results were tabulated follows. A total of 1036 individuals belonging to 27 species and 19 families were recorded from this present study.

Maximum number of birds observed during the month April (263). In the months March, May and February almost equal number of birds observed during the study period. The minimum number of birds observed during the month December (97) followed by January (99). (Appendix-1)

The monthly variation in number of bird species during the study period. It was found that the maximum number of bird species observed almost equal in the months February (21) and March (20).Minimum number of birds observed in December (14) (Appendix-1).

Majority of observed bird species are insectivorous that is about 55%, which was then followed by piscivorous of 30%. Least of them were feed both insects and pisces (15%) (Appendix-2).

Diversity index was maximum in January (1.809) and minimum in April (1.048) (Appendix-4).

Pond heron (17.76) has largest relative frequency followed by Cattle egret (17.18). Grey heron and blue cheeked bee-eater both have minimum relative frequency (0.09) (Appendix-5).

DESCRIPTION ON IDENTIFIED SPECIES

Taxonomic account of each species of birds were given below:

Kingdom : Animalia

Phylum : Chordata

Class : Aves

FAMILY- ANATIDAE

Dendrocygna javanica (LESSER WHISTLING TEAL)

A small pale brown and maroon-chestnut coloured duck. Rests on weed-covered tanks during daytime, flighting to flooded rice fields, etc; to feed during the night. Walks well on marshland.  Food: Largely vegetarian-shoots and grain-but also eats small fish, snails, etc.

FAMILY- ARDEIDAE

Bubulcus ibis   (CATTLE EGRET)

In non –breeding pure white plumage distinguished from the Little Egret by colour of  bill which is yellow, not black. The orange-buff  head, neck, and back of the breeding plumage render it unmistakable. Gregarious. Mostly seen with grazing cattle. Food: Chiefly grasshoppers, bluebottle flies, cicadas and other insects; and also frogs, lizards, fish, etc.

Ardea cinerea   (GREY HERON)

A lanky stork- like bird, ashy grey above with white crown and neck; greyish white below, with long slender s shaped neck, narrow head, and pointed dagger bill. A long black occipital crest, and elongated white feathers on the breast with some black steaks. Resident and migratory. Food: Frog, fish.

Egretta alba      (LARGE EGRET)

Legs bare, black, bill black and yellow, or yellow. Breeding birds develop a cluster of flimsy ornamental dorsal plumes falling over beyond the tail. Difficult to distinguish from other egrets in non- breeding plumage except the little egret which has parti- coloured black- and- yellow feet. Affects jheels, marshes, rivers, etc. Food: Fish, frog.

Ardeola grayii      (POND HERON)

An egret- like marsh bird chiefly earthy brown when at rest, but with the glistening white wings, tail and rump flashing into prominence immediately it flies. In breeding season acquires maroon hair-like plumes on back, and long white occipital crest. Singly, or loose parties, at  jheels,  ponds, etc. Food: Frogs, fish, crabs and insects.

Ardea purpurea    (PURPLE HERON)

Bluish grey above with rufous head and neck; and chestnut below. Bright purple in direct sunlight. Resident and locally migratory. Solitary. Seen at jheels, swamps etc ; Food : Fish, frog, snake etc.

FAMILY- CHARADIIDAE

Vanellus  indicus   (REDWATTLED LAPWING)

A familiar plover ,bronze-brown above ,white below ,with black breast ,head and neck ,and a crimson fleshy wattle in front of each eye. A broad white band from behind eyes running down sides of neck to meet the white under parts .Affects open country, ploughed fields. Food: Insects, grubs, molluscs, etc.

FAMILY- CICONIIDAE

Anastomus oscitans   (ASIAN OPENBILL- STORK)

A small white or greyish white stork, with black in the wings. In the distance rather like European white stork, but the peculiar reddish black bill with arching mandibles leaving a narroe open gap between them is diagnostic. Twos or trees, or flocks, at jheels and marshes. Resident and locally migratory. Food : snails, crabs, frogs, and large insects.

FAMILY- COLUMBIDAE

Columba livia (BLUE ROCK PIGEON)

A familiar slaty gray bird with glistening metallic green, purple and magenta sheen on neck and upper breast. Two dark bars on wings, and a band across end of tail. Flocks and colonies, about cliffs and human inhabitations.  Resident, but also partial local migrant. Food: cereals, pulse etc.

FAMILY- CUCULIDAE

Centropus sinensis      (CROW PHEASANT)

A clumsy, glossy black bird with conspicuous chestnut wings and long, broad, black, graduated tail. Singly or pairs, stalking along the ground in undergrowth. Food : Caterpillars, large insects, snails, lizards etc.

FAMILY- DICRURIDAE

Dicrurus adsimilis    (BLACK DRONGO)

A slim and agile glossy black bird with long, deeply forked tail. Singly, on the open countryside and about cultivation.  A familiar bird of open country,  usually perched on telegraph wires, or attending on grazing cattle. From exposed look-outs it keeps vigilant watch for grasshoppers and other insects. Food: Insects, flower nectar also occasionally small birds.

FAMILY- HALCYONIDAE

Halcyon smyrnensis  (WHITEBREASTED KINGFISHER)

A brilliant turquoise- blue kingfisher with deep chocolate-brown head, neck and underparts and long, heavy, pointed red bill. A white wing- patch prominent in flight. Singly, in cultivated and wooded country, both near and away from water .Seen at ponds, inundated paddy fields. Food: Fish, tadpoles, lizards ,grasshoppers and other insects.

FAMILY- HIRUNDINIDAE

Hirundo rustica   (COMMON SWALLOW)

Glossy steel blue or purplish blue above, pale pinkish white below. Chestnut forehead and throat,  the latter bordered by a broad glossy black pectoral band. Deeply forked “swallow” tail. Usually seen huddled on telegraph wires over open country or marsh land. Food: Insects, flies.

FAMILY- PLOCEIDAE

Ploceus  philippinus  (BAYA WEAVER BIRD)

Dark-streaked fulvous brown above, plain whitish fulvous below, Stout conical bill, short square-cut tail.  Flocks about open cultivation. Resident and locally migratory. Flocks, sometimes of considerable size, glean paddy and other grain in harvested fields. Its seasonal local movements are largely governed by paddy and cereal cultivation which provide both nesting material and food. Also eats insects.

FAMILY- PASSERIDAE

Anthus novaeseelandiae  (PADDY FIELD PIPIT)

Rather like female House sparrow in coloration, dark brown above marked with fulvous; pale fulvous below, streaked with brown on breast.  Slimmer, with slenderer bill and longer tail in which outermost feathers white. Pairs or loose parties, on fallow land, etc. Food: Weevils and other small insects.

FAMILY- PSITTACIDAE

Psittacula krameri (ROSE RINGED PARAKEET)

Female lacks the black and rose- pink collar of male. Noiy flocks about cultivation. In lightly- wooded country. Often bands itself into large flocks and is highly destructive at all times to crops.

FAMILY- RALLIDAE

Amaurornis phoenicurus   (WHITEBREASTED WATERHEN)

A familiar slaty grey sub –tailed long –legged marsh bird with prominent white face and breast, and bright rusty red under the tail. Seen on marshy ground.  Affects moist ground overgrown with tangles of bushes. Food: Insects, worms ,molluscs, grain and shoots of paddy and marsh plants.

FAMILY- STURNIDAE

Acridotheres tristis    (INDIAN MYNA)

A familiar perky, well-groomed dark brown bird with bright yellow bill, legs, and bare skin round eyes. A large white patch in wing conspicuous in flight. Pairs or parties, about human habitations and on country-side. Food : fruits ,insects.

FAMILY- THRESKIONITHINAE

Threskiornis aethiopica    (WHITE IBIS)

A large white marsh bird with naked black head and neck, and long stout, black, downcurved curlew- like bill. Parties, on marshy land. Migratory.Walks about actively on marshy land probing with its bill into soft mud, mandibles partly open like forceps.

DISCUSSION

The present study “Avian diversity of Valiyakulam paddy field”, resulted in recording of 1026 individuals belonging to 27 families and 14 species.

From the study on the feeding habit of bird species, it was observed that majority of the bird species observed were insectivores. Out of 14 species of birds  7 feeds on insects,  5 bird species feeds on pisces and  2 species of birds they feed both insects and pisces. The paddy field provides food materials to both the insectivorous and piscivorous birds. According to the Dhadse E.P et.al (2008) observed that the diversity of birds at Paniput refinery, Haryana, revealed that majority of the birds were insectivorous in 1992 which is potentially replaced by piscivorous birds in 2001.

Mohammed, S. A., etal (2011) reported 75 taxa of birds belongings to 41 families were recorded in the Mayiladuthurai region, Tamilnadu, India during the January 2006 to December 2006. Among the birds recorded in this study, about 26 species were insectivores. Both the studies represents insectivorous birds are maximum.

During the study it was observed that the maximum number of bird species included in the family Ardeidae. 3 species representing from the Ardeidae family. They are Cattle egret, Large egret, and Pond heron.

Kumbar, S. M., etal( 2012) observed in his study Preliminary  study on avian fauna of the Krishna river basin Sangli district,  Western Maharashtra, India. The study revealed that a total of 126 species of birds belonging to 30 families, of which 36 were insectivorous, 28 piscivorous. From the present study indicates most of the bird species are insectivorous (7) followed by piscivorous (5).

According to the Reginald, L. J et al (2011) studied the status and ecology of the birds of an urban college campus, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. They observed that 72 species of birds. Insectivorous birds were observed to be maximum. The present study revealed that maximum numbers of bird species are insectivorous.

The present study supports that Pond heron and Cattle egret are more common in the study area and maximum numbers of birds were insectivorous followed by piscivorous. Ecology of wetland birds in the Kole wetlands of Kerala (Jayson, E. A, 2002) they revealed Little egret, Cattle egret, Little cormorant and Pond heron were most abundant species in the four intensive study sites. Feeding guild analysis which showed that maximum species were insectivores (45) followed by omnivores (41) and aquatic feeders (43) and others.

CONCLUSION

Birds are the good indicators of environmental quality. The present comparative study of insectivorous and piscivorous avian fauna on paddy field of Vengola Grama Panchayath recording 1036 individuals belongings to 19 families and 27 species. From the study on feeding habit of bird species, it was observed that majority of the bird species were insectivores. Out of 27 species of birds 15 were insectivorous, 8 bird species were piscivorous and 4 species of birds were both insectivorous and piscivorous.

During the study period observed the maximum number of bird species included in the family Ardeidae. 6 species representing in the Ardeidae family. They are Cattle egret, Grey heron, Large egret, Little egret, Pond heron and Purple heron.

Out of 27 species identified from the study area, 17 birds were resident, 6 of them were local migrants, 3 of them were resident migratory and only one bird species  are migratory. The migratory species found in the study area is White ibis.

Bird population varies with seasonal and different periods of paddy cultivation. During in the harvesting period of paddy cultivation (April) maximum number of bird species observed (263). Minimum number of birds observed in December. Pond heron and Cattle egret were observed maximum during the study period.

Diversity index was maximum in January and it was 1.809 and April shows the least that is 1.048.

Study on relative frequency of each species during the study period shows Pond heron has largest relative frequency and Grey heron and Blue cheeked bee-eater shows the minimum.

The presence of pond, irrigation channel, arecanut and coconut trees in the paddy field which offers the better breeding, feeding and rearing ground for bird species.

Farmers should be made aware that conserving the paddy cultivation and for conservation of the migratory birds for their betterment. In addition to wetland birds, insectivorous species like drongo, swallows are also found in good numbers in this paddy fields.

For the improvement of the bird species in the study area cultivate large number of coconut and arecanut trees.

Birds contribute directly or indirectly to human welfare. Birds are    playing a major role as pollinators, consumers, dispersers of plant seeds and predators   of insects.

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