Studies on community structure nesting and roosting sites of birds of Nalagarh Fort Area in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

newline viii newlineABSTRACT newlineThe present study on avian community structure, nesting and roosting was conducted at Nalagarh Fort located in the Shivalik range and highly industrialized Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh belt of Himachal Pradesh. Using line transects method on six different habitats, a total of 2,863 birds of 27 species were observed from December 2011 - May 2012. Proportion of resident species was higher than in the Nallagarh Valley making Nalagarh Fort an important bird habitat, and more so, because of its location at the urban-forest fringe area. The granivorous Columbidae comprised maximum number of species (n=4) indicating increasing urbanization effect. newlineCumulative count of birds in all habitats showed numerical dominance of Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striatus), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos). Tree area had the highest species diversity index (H ) with a value of 1.399 and evenness index (J) value of 0.944. Bray-Curtis analysis indicated that tree and agriculture areas had the most similar (84%) bird communities, and scrub habitat had least degree of similarity to all other habitats. The study area provided nesting sites for Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Rose Ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), Red Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer), Blue Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striatus) and Spotted Owlet (Athene brama). Seven species of birds were observed roosting on trees, buildings and high tension wires.