STUDIES ON THE HABITAT AND BREEDING BIOLOGY OF BLACK PARTRIDGE Francolinus francolinus (Linneaus) AND GREY PARTRIDGE Francolinus pondicerianus (Gmelin) IN CROP LAND ECOSYSTEM
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Date
2011
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Abstract
The present study was undertaken to investigate the various habitat preferences of the black and grey
partridge in crop land ecosystem, the predominant ecosystem of the state. In addition the breeding
biology which included the courtship behaviour/ pair formation, nesting sites, nest formation, egg
laying and clutch size of these birds was also studied. The study was divided into three experiments,
in the first experiment, the habitat preferences of black and grey partridge in different crop lands were
studied and later, the breeding behaviour and the nesting sites and the number of nests of these birds
were studied in the second experiment, and then lastly, the breeding biology i.e. the egg laying and
clutch size of both the birds were studied. The study areas included orchards, crops like wheat, bajra,
maize, mustard, sunflower, shaftal, sorghum, barseem, mulberry, cotton etc. In forestry area trees like
poplar, jatropa and bushy area were grown. In dairy farm area, it was fodder and bajra. During the
entire course of study both the black and grey partridges were observed for their activities like
foraging, feeding, breeding etc. In the new orchard area, the crops of bajra in fodder section area and
dairy farm area, a comparatively higher number of black partridges were observed. This indicated the
suitability of these three crop habitats for black partridge. In case of grey partridge, the most suitable
area was fodder section area having the crops like bajra, maize and sorghum. The number of grey
partridge sighted were much more and with greater frequency. Like black partridge, their numbers
increased after the breeding season in the month of August to October. In this study, 4 nests of black
partridge and 5 nests of grey partridge were observed and the clutch was between 8-13. The present
study concluded that black partridges were found in specific habitats while the grey partridge was a
true generalist species having the capacity to adapt to a wide range of habitats and environmental
conditions. The density was found to vary between different habitats on the basis of vegetation
characteristics. The grey partridge of these birds was found to be far more in numbers as compared to
black partridge in all habitats. The black partridge was found in the habitat area which was highly
dense, very less or even no black partridge was seen in the area having the habitat covered with trees
whereas grey partridge was found in every type of habitat.
Keywords: Habitat, Black partridge, Grey partridge, Foraging, Nesting, Egg laying, Clutch size.
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