Status of population and assessment of environmental contaminants on egg parameters and breeding biology of House Crow (Corvus splendens) in Malwa region of Punjab
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Date
2017
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
Birds are the common inhabitants of the ecosystem and are well known as indicator
species of the ecosystem health. Among these birds, the Indian House Crow (Corvus
splendens), is the most wide spread subspecies of the corvidae family in India as well as in the
world. Present study was undertaken to study the dynamics of house crow population in some
pockets of Malwa region of Punjab. The present study on the status of population of House
Crow was carried out in the 3 districts of Malwa region of Punjab (Punjab Agricultural
University (PAU), Ludhiana and in selected villages of Sangrur and Bathinda), while study on
assessment of environmental contaminants on egg parameters and breeding biology was
carried out only in the 2 districts of Malwa region of Punjab (PAU, Ludhiana and in selected
villages of Sangrur). It was observed that population of House Crow was significantly low at
the Sangrur and Bathinda villages as compared to PAU, Ludhiana. In present study, breeding
season of House Crow was observed to be from April to September. 99 nests were recorded
during two breeding seasons in PAU, Ludhiana and 9 nests were found in two villages of
Sangrur. Quantitative analysis of the nests of house crow was also done. Majority of the nests
of the House Crow located on 17 different tree species. In the present study two types of nests
were observed i.e. Active nests and Non-active nests. In PAU, Ludhiana, out of total 99 nests,
61 nests found to be active and 38 nests were remain in-active on 16 different tree species in
both breeding seasons. In villages of Sangrur, all nests were found inactive on the 3 tree
species used. Average egg length, breadth, shape index, egg weight, albumen weight, yolk
weight, shell weight, albumen percentage, yolk percentage, shell percentage, egg shell
thickness, CaCO3, egg volume and specific gravity which indicate hatchability of eggs were
determined. In present study high levels of chlorpyriphos and few heavy metals were detected
in feather samples collected from villages of Sangrur. Overall it was observed that the
population at PAU, Ludhiana was higher as compared to selected villages of Sangrur and
Bathinda. Analysis of feathers indicated higher levels of chlorpyriphos and some heavy
metals in the feathers collected from villages of Sangrur. As birds are the visible indicators of
the health and quality of the ecosystem in which they live, therefore, fixing priorities and
developing strategies for their conservation needs further studies for a healthy environment.
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