Nesting and breeding behaviour of Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) and Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicata) in rural areas of Ludhiana District
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Date
2018
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study was designed to study the nesting and breeding behaviour of Black Drongo
(Dicrurus macrocercus) and Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicata) in rural areas of Ludhiana
district. The study was carried out for twelve months from January to December 2017 in the
campus of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana i.e. location A, village Baranhara
(district Ludhiana) i.e. location B and village Ladiankhurd (district Ludhiana) i.e. location C.
Common Babbler (5.65%) was the most abundant species in the bird community followed by the
Common Myna (4.87%), Black Drongo (4.73%), Indian Peafowl (4.47%) and Blue Rock Pigeon
(4.04%) at location A. House Crow was the most abundant species at location B. Blue Rock
Pigeon (6.44%) was the most abundant species at location C. Nine nesting sites were observed in
PAU campus (transects IA,IIA,IIIA,IVA and VA) out of which two were located on Indian
Mahogany, two on Sukh Chain, one on Neem and four on Dhek. Five nesting sites were observed
in the village Baranhara (transect IB and IIB) out of which two were located on Neem and three
on Dhek tree. A total of four nesting sites were observed at village Ladiankhurd (transect IC and
IIC) out of which two were located on Poplar and two on Dhek. Clutch size (3-4 eggs), incubation
period (13±0.34 days), hatching and fledging success of Black Drongo were noted. It was
observed that albumen, yolk and shell weights of Black Drongo ranged from 1.27 gm to 2.81 gm,
2.58 gm to 2.95 gm and 0.28 gm to 0.52 gm, respectively. The CaCO3 weight and proportion of
eggs of Black Drongo ranged from 0.16 gm to 0.38 gm and 51.35% to 89.29% respectively. Six
nesting sites of Indian Robin were observed in PAU campus out of which four ground nests were
located in the undergrowth of hedges near roadside (transect IA, IIA and IIIA) and two ground
nests were found in wild bushes (transect IVA). Five nesting sites were observed in the village
Baranhara (transect IB and IIB) on the terrace of the underconstructed buildings. A total of six
nesting sites were observed at village Ladiankhurd (transect IB and IIB) in the crevices of
underconstructed buildings. The average incubation period of eggs of Indian Robin was 11.5±0.22
days. Albumen, yolk and egg shell weights of Indian Robin ranged from 1.35 gm to 1.60 gm, 3.27
gm to 3.79 gm and 0.39 gm to 0.51 gm respectively. The shell thickness ranged from 0.19 mm to
0.34 mm. The CaCO3 weight and proportion were ranged from 0.27 gm to 0.41 gm and 61.70% to
81.40% respectively.
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