Changing bird community due to modernization of houses and environmental contamination in rural areas
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Date
2018
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present work was planned to investigate the impact of modernization of houses and environmental contamination on bird community in two villages falling in two districts of Punjab. The study was carried out in village Rampur Channa (location I) district Sangrur and village Dargapur (location II) district Patiala. Bird data had shown the presence of 43 and 39 bird species at location I and II respectively. The architectural variations of houses seemed to effect the species diversity and abundance. A total of 35 and 32 bird species were observed in different types of houses at location I and II respectively. Traditional houses supported cavity/hole nesters while modern houses provided more roosting, perching and feeding sites having diverse vegetation to different bird species. Common Myna, Blue Rock Pigeon and House Crow were most abundant species observed common to different types of houses at both the locations. Overall 15 nesting bird species were noted at both studied areas. Different nesting sites were preferred by different bird species. These nesting site preferences seemed to be related to housing structures, tress/shrubs /ornamental plants and nest predation at both the said locations. The detailed observations on breeding activities of seven bird species were noted. The results of heavy metal analysis showed varying levels of heavy metals in the excreta of Blue Rock Pigeon and Indian Peafowl. More level of heavy metals was noted at location I than at location II. No pesticide residue was estimated in the excreta of Blue Rock Pigeon and Indian Peafowl. The diverse vegetation preferred by most of the birds must popularized among the villagers to conserve avian diversity.
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