INVESTIGATION OF SELECTED STRIGIFORMES AND EVALUATION THEIR CON-SPECIFIC CALL RESPONSE, INTERSPECIES RESPONSE AND HABITAT PREFERENCE IN WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, KERALA.
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Date
2022-02-25
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KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY POOKODE, WAYANAD
Abstract
Owls are one of the least studying avian species because of their secretive
nature. The distribution of owls was studied in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
(WWLS) using call playback method. Out of eight species focused by call
playback; only five species responded to its conspecific call play back. Oriental
scops owl (Otus sunia) responded to most of the call playback (62% response)
followed by Jungle owlet (Glaucidium radiatum; 50%), Brown hawk owl (Ninox
scutulata; 48%) and Indian scops owl (Otus bakkamoena; 14%). Spot bellied
eagle owl (Bubo nipalensis) responded only once to its conspecific call (2.4%).
On an average, the number of individual responses (n) of Oriental scops owl
responded to the call playback was 2.38 ± 1.08. While the average number of
individual response by Jungle owlets was 1.95± 0.97 and Brown hawk owl 1.25±
0.55 respectively. A higher chance of occurrence of Oriental scops owl was found
in the dry deciduous habitat (58%) while Indian scops owl (30%) and the Jungle
owlet (30%) were found high in the teak abundant habitats. Whereas species like
Brown hawk owl was found higher in the forest fringe area. Spot bellied eagle
owls were found only in the moist deciduous habitat when the survey was done.
The study showed the importance of how the call playback method plays the role
to investigate secretive, nocturnal species like owls.
Description
Dissertation ubmitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in Wildlife Studies.