Abundance and breeding biology of Indian Pond Heron (Ardeola grayii) in village ponds of Punjab
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Date
2018
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to investigate the abundance of Indian Pond Heron and other water birds species in and around the village ponds of Punjab. In addition the breeding biology including the pair formation, nesting sites, egg laying, clutch size, hatching period and hatching success of Indian Pond Heron was also studied. The study was carried out in and around village ponds of District Barnala and Ludhiana from February 2017 to January 2018. A total of 54 bird species were recorded out of 17 bird species were water dependent. Indian Pond Heron was found less abundant in Punjab. The breeding period started from March to September. It preferred indigenous trees like Peepal, Banyan, Jamun, Dhek and Kikar for nest building. Nest was more commonly at upper and outer canopy of trees. Nest was unarranged, flat made of sticks and twigs and was always recorded at heights above 6 m. Clutch size varied between 2 to 5 eggs. Clutch of three eggs was most common. Eggs of were sea green, oval and without spots. Egg length and egg width varied from 26.34 mm to 43.56 mm and 18.37 mm to 34.45 mm respectively. Egg weight varied from 9.13 gm to 15.03 gm. Egg albumen ranged from 2.94 gm to 4.55 gm; egg yolk weight ranged from 5.22 gm to 8.15 gm; egg shell weight varied from 1.00 gm to 1.32 gm. Mean egg shell thickness recorded was 0.28 ± 0.01 mm. Percentage of calcium carbonate ranged between 63.96 per cent to 86.41 per cent. Mean calcium carbonate content in egg shells of Indian Pond Heron was 0.81 ± 0.01 gm.
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