THE INDIAN RING DOVE (Streptopelia Decaocta ) AS VECTOR and AGRICULTURAL PEST

JOURNAL OF INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES THE INDIAN RING DOVE (Streptopelia decaocta ) AS VECTOR AND AGRICULTURAL PEST

1 SAROJ CHAHAR , 2 DR.DIGVIJAY SINGH,

1 Research scholar Singhania University Pacheri-Bari, Jhunjhunu, 2 Lecturer , Zoology, S.B.D.Govt College, Sardarshahr,

[email protected], [email protected]

ABSTRACT : Dove constitute the bird family- Columbidae, within the order- Columbiformes, which include some 300 species. Common dove seen in arid zone of Rajasthan are Indian ring dove (Streptopelia decaocta), red-turtle dove(Streptopelia tranquebarica tranquebarica) and little brown dove(Stigmatopelia senegalensis).The dove universally symbolizes innocence, gentleness, faith, marital affection, peace and constancy. The dove is the only bird that is mentioned about fifty times in the Bible. Visual observation and questionnaires indicate that in large variety of crops including Bajra,Wheat,Ground nut, Pulses, Mung,Moth, Rye were attacked at sowing, planting,seedling and harvesting stages of growth by the doves. They can cause substantial damage to agricultural crops in economy of farmer. These doves carry pathogens of diseases like ornithosis, salmonellosis, cryptococcosis etc.

1. INTRODUCTION Indian Ring Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is very 3. METHODS common bird in arid zone of Rajasthan. It is about The pest status and dove as a vector was determined 32cm (12.05 inch) in length, 138 gram in weight. from questionnaires to farmers and villagers. The Pale grey and brown in colour. The male dove would questions asked were: can you identify the dove? have a distinctively developed claw behind its limb ( local name was used), Is it a major pest on your where as the female will not have it. The size of the farm? What crops does is damage? Do they transmit male dove is slightly larger then the female. They any kind of disease? Have you ever controlled it and breed throughout its range, practically all year chiefly with what methods and what measure of success? May to September, Two eggs are laid regularly at Questionnaire responses on Indian ring dove damage intervals of between 6-8 weeks, eggs are pure white to crop plants is mentioned in table (1.1) The mode of and smooth textured. They build flimsy bottomed damage was also determined from visual observation nest. Both sexes share a nest building and incubation. of damaged crops in the field. Cultivated crop fields They are primarily granivorous feeders, feeds on were chosen randomly. Observations were taken seeds which are visible or readily accessible in light twice or thrice a week, at regular intervals during ground cover. Dove are attracted to agricultural crops morning and afternoon. The number of bird species particularly cereal grains (Indian corn, bread wheat, recorded are in table (1.2) common sorghum,millets,rye,barley and common 4. RESULTS oats) when agricultural foods are available that Seventy six percent of the questionnaires sent were comprises a large part of the diet. The extent of bird completed and returned. Preliminary results compiled damage, varies between fields and at different from answers to the questionnaires indicated that localities depending upon several factors. The risk of large variety of crops including pearl catching a disease from human is far greater then it is millet(Pennisctum typhoides), wheat(Triticum to catch one from a bird (dove or other wise) aestivum), mung (Vigna radiata), moth (Vigna 2. STUDY AREA aconitifolia), mustard (Brassica campristriace), The Sardarshahar, tehsil of Churu district in jawar (Sorghum vulgur), ground nut (Apios Rajasthan is selected for the study. It is situated 250 Americana) were attacked at various stages of growth km from Jaipur via Sikar, Ratangarh and 47km from planting, seedling and harvesting. The extent of Ratangarh and 137km from Bikaner. The rainfall is damage depends on the population of doves in the scanty and erratic. The average rain fall is about crop land. But their population is fast declining in 420mm. month of July and August has got maximum previous last two decades. This is due to extensive rainy days. In summer maximum temperature may use of pesticides, habitat destruction, hunting and reach up to 490c and in winter the temperature may contamination of their food and water. People are not fall as 020c. The humidity is generally about 60% but aware of any disease of dove. There is no medical in summer season it decreases below 30% due to record, evidence to show that dove spread diseases. dryness in environment. Rabi crop is mustard and wheat, kharif crop is Bajara and Moth. Table 1.1 Questionnaire responses on Indian ring dove damage to crop plants. Name of crop No. of respondents No. of respondents % respondent Time of damage ISSN: 0975 – 6701| NOV 11 TO OCT 12 | Volume 2, Issue 1 Page 57 JOURNAL OF INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES that grow crop that allege damage who allege damage Pearl millet 260 250 96.15 Sowing, harvesting Wheat 215 200 93.02 Sowing, harvesting Sorghum 150 135 90 Sowing, germinating Mung 150 122 81.33 Sowing, germinating Moth 75 60 80 Sowing, germinating Mustard 200 80 40 Sowing Ground nut 50 15 30 Germinating

Table 1.2 Indian ring dove visitant in pearl millet crop at harvesting stage Date Morning Evening Total 05.10.2011 12 15 27 06.10.2011 16 13 29 07.10.2011 8 11 19 08.10.2011 13 12 25 09.10.2011 11 13 24 10.10.2011 17 15 32 Total 77 79 156

5. CONTROL 3. Hitchcock, R. R. and R. E. Mirarchi. 1985. Some traditional methods used to protect crops from Surrogate feeding and adoptive behavior in mourning birds are gophan (sling), bijuka (pitcher- doves. J. Wildl. Manage. 42(2):502-504. effigy),manchan, flagged bamboos, drum beating. 4. Karstad, L. 1971. Pox. Pages 34-41 in J. W. 6. CONCLUSION Davis, R. C. Anderson, L. Karstad, and D. O. Indian ring dove which was really a big problem for Trainer, eds., Infectious and parasitic diseases of wild farmers and they used varies traditional methods to birds. Iowa st. Univ. Press, Ames. 344 pp. protect their crop, there population is declined rapidly 5. Korschgen, L. J. 1958. Food habits of the in last two decades so now they are not much mourning dove in Missouri. J. Wildl. Manage. harmful. There is no evidence to show that dove 22(1):9-16. spread diseases. 6. Leach, M., ed. 1949. Dictionary of folklore, 7. REFRENCES mythology and legend. Part 1. Funk and Wagnalls 1. Griffing, J. P. and C. A. Davis. 1974. Co., New York. 531 pp. Mourning dove foods in an uncultivated area of New 7. Smith, G. J. 1987. Pesticide use and Mexico. J. Wildl. Manage. 38(2):375-376. toxicology in relation to wildlife: organophosphorus 2. Griffing, J. P. and C. A. Davis. 1978. and carbamate compounds. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Feeding diversity and specific search image of Serv. Resour. Publ. 170.171 pp. mourning doves in southern New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist. 23(4):702-704.

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