Science Research Reporter, 6(1):50-57, (April - 2016)

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Research Article

Painted ( leucocephala): Population status, shift in food and behavioral ecology from isolated ponds of Godavari River basin in Nanded district, India

Chavan Shivaji Prabhakar* and Dilip Dudhmal

Aquatic Parasitology, Fisheries and Avian Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, School of Life Sciences, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded – 431606, M. S., India *Email: [email protected]

Article Info Abstract

Received: 09-02-2016, Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala) recently declared as Near Threatened Revised: 12-03-2016, (NT) stork species by IUCN. There is tremendous pressure on this species Accepted: 16-03-2016 especially in searching food and nest building sites in parts of Marathwada region of Maharashtra State. This stork species has sluggish mode of feeding Keywords: and stays for 1-4 hrs at a place, if not disturbed. Anthropogenic activities and Painted Stork, Population, behavioral response of this species in its habitat was observed to reach to the Godavari, Anthropogenic, conclusion that such activities are forcing the to change its feeding Behavioral ecology habitat frequently which is increasing the energy demand for flying and food search. Shallow water marshes, and coastal shallow water (1.0-1.5 ft) of sandy and muddy river beaches with good population of weed and bivalve Mollusks is the ideal feeding habitat for painted storks. But, their feeding is greatly affected due to increased fishing and anthropogenic activities in Godavari river basin. Population and behavior of painted stork especially during feeding was also studied at 03 isolated ponds in Nanded region of Marathwada of Maharashtra State.

INTRODUCTION range of distribution and about 25,000 total Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala, Pennant, population of all age groups exist in the world, 1790) one of the common aquatic bird in Indian including about only 10,000-17,000 mature subcontinent and one of the important species from individuals (Urfi, 2011)at present. It is an alarming five genera and 19 species of storks all over the number for the existence of single species in the world (Internet-, 2015). Recently, it is whole world which is a major concern. Therefore, categorized as Near Threatened (NT) species of it is important to concentrate on the eradication of ‘Red Data list of avifauna of the World (IUCN). It the problems related to the reducing numbers of was in the category of least concerned (LC) species storks in the days to come which has categorized till year 2004 (Urfi, 2011). Loss of feeding grounds, this stork species into NT. over fishing from the feeding grounds, deforestation Bhaskarpara Ghana National Park, of useful trees for nest building, poaching of adults, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary AP, Harike Lake Bird predation of eggs and young ones, reduced rate of Sanctuary Punjab, Wild Ass Wild Life Sanctuary egg incubation, starvation of developing young ones Kutch, Gujrat are few Important Bird Areas (IBA) are the major threats to this bird (Urfi, 2007). The identified for the major occurrence of painted storks bird is not endemic to specific region of India but it (Urfi, 2011) but in the Godavari River basin of is resident breeder having about 1, 930, 30 km2 Maharashtra State, recently it has been observed http://jsrr.net 50 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Chavan and Dudhmal in groups of 5-180 (Chavan et al., 2015). There are Similarly, there are great problems against number of aspects which still needs to be painted storks in getting food and suitable feeding investigated that mainly include the environmental grounds. Probably, these considerably large birds factors that make the abundance of storks in habitat spend more time and energy in searching the food favoring nest building and feeding. Tacto-location and suitable feeding areas. Noteworthy, they need by foot and probing by bill type of feeding in the shallow water for feeding which include search of muddy and coastal areas of and water food and actual feeding process (Urfi, 2011). bodies, difference in food and feeding during Disturbance from fishermen, cattle grazers, breeding and non-breeding season of painted storks, poachers and hunters are the major setbacks in their burden of anthropogenic activities for getting fishes feeding activity. Therefore, it is essential to note is preventing easy access of water bodies and that which factors affect the feeding process in wetlands to these birds day by day. Similarly, over painted storks so that these factors can be fishing from feeding grounds of storks and sand eliminated as a part of conservation strategy for this dredging are important reasons for the decreasing important water bird to prevent its next ecological trends of occurrence of Painted storks in many parts degradation from Near Threatened (NT) to of IBA and other common regions of Maharashtra Threatened (T) status and so forth in Godavari river and Andhra Pradesh including Godavari River basin basin especially in Nanded region. (Chavan et al., 2015). Godavari river system is one of the MATERIALS AND METHODS important river systems in India and principal river Study area: basin in Marathwada region of Maharashtra State Godavari river basin and various villages, (Chavan et al., 2015- (b)). Due to high water ponds, back water wetland of reservoirs in parts of demanding crop patterns to grow cash crops like Nanded district and Parbhani district of Maharashtra Banana, Turmeric, Sugarcane, Wheat etc. and also with details of location are as given in Table 1. due to horticulture, there is overexploitation of Avian diversity observed in the region from Order- water from river Godavari and its tributaries and Ciconiformes is as given in Table 2. reservoirs from the main basin. Neither farmers nor Data Collection and analysis Government agencies, private business firms, The survey were conducted between consider that water is a resource to be used by other December 2012 to January 2015. Line transect creatures also. It was observed that the human needs method (Ralf et al, 1997) was used to conduct the from rivers and reservoirs for extracting , sand survey of selected region to estimate the abundance and other livelihoods are increasing with day that of painted stork. Observations were carried out forced painted storks to change its food from fish to during morning; evening and night. Photographic shell fish (Chavan et al., 2015). In recent times, the record of painted storks and other avi-fauna was occurrence of undigested hydrophyte plant parts is maintained by using 16.1 Mega Pixel CMOS (42X commonly found in the fecal examination of wide optical zoom) Digital camera model NIKON Painted storks of this region. 510. The identification of painted stork was To estimate the population status of a bird confirmed by using standard literature (Ali and species in a particular area is one of the difficult Ripley, 1978). task due to need of long term systematic The abundance of storks was decided based observation (Li Zuo Wei, 2006). Local migration, on the data of frequency and number of individuals anthropogenic disturbances are the main factors to sited at different habitats (Table 1.) as in Table 2. estimate the population of bird species. But constant The data is represented in the form of abundance, monitoring on the population status and seasonality common and rare. For the statistical analysis of data of Near Threatened species (NT) (Birdlife ‘Biodiversity Calculator’ software was used to International, 2012) like Painted Stork (Mycteria calculate Alpha Diversity, Simpson Index, leucocephala) is most important as an ecological Dominance Index, Simpsons Reciprocal Index, management for this species (Pattanayak et al, Shannon Weiver Index, Margalef’s Richness Index 2008). It is a part of conservation of Painted stork in and Equitability Index. the Godavari river Basin in parts of Maharashtra State.

http://jsrr.net 51 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Science Research Reporter, 6(1):50-57, (April - 2016) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION tendency of birds to become alert, to stop activities Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala, Pennant, and remain stationary at one place and to fly away. 1790) is one of the common stork species from Such behavioral responses shown by storks were Order Ciconiformes, family Ciconidae found in the recorded with distance of disturbance that cause the Indian subcontinent. It is a piscivorous bird needs bird to behave especially was measured first time in shallow water of 20-25 cm depth in the marginal this region (Table 5). There was no conflict area of a water body or coastal shallow water pools amongst the painted stork (s) and other species from of river. Fish is the common food of this bird and family Ciconidae found in the study area. observed bill-probing and tacto-locating food are Distance of disturbance due to various the common methods used to search the food and activities in the habitat of painted stork and around once it gets food (especially fish) it is picked out of the habitat was minimum 2 meters and maximum water and then knocked on the ground or chiseled 1000 meters indicates behavioral sensitivity of this with heavy strong bill and engulfed (Urfi, 2011). It species. To stop foraging and fly away were the was observed always feeding in the shallow water major responses shown by the stork as important area. But, we observed that it engulf the prey like issues for the energy budget maintenance needs. prawns from river at the same place where it got its The anthropogenic activities such as increased food. fishing, agriculture and religious activities are The mean population density of bird species forcing the storks to reduce their number. Hence, especially from order Ciconiformes (Elliott, 1992) this stork species need to change their feeding was counted at three different habitats (Table-1) habitat in a very short time of 1-2 hrs that increases that also include Painted Stork was 19.83, which the energy budget required for flying from one to was comparatively higher of counts at points A-5 at next place. Similarly the fishing activities in the village Jarikot near Dharmabad city. The highest ponds, lakes, reservoirs and rivers are increasing point count density was due to presence of all major and the suitable sites for feeding for the storks are essential habitat features that include 2-15 cm depth decreasing in number. of water, undisturbed coastal area of the selected Anthropogenic activities in the habitat of Painted pond from anthropogenic activities, no source of Storks: industrial effluents but addition of untreated During study period various anthropogenic sewage. Lowest mean count of Ciconiformes was at activities in the feeding grounds of different habitats Cherli bridge; at this point all disturbing of painted storks were observed, all these activities anthropogenic activities like vehicle noise, and are directly or indirectly responsible for temporarily fishing activities were observed. Comparatively all leaving the area and changing the food preference three sites support the painted stork population but of painted storks that mainly include over fishing in in different population count. The population count the shallow water of river and water bodies using of Ciconiformes at all other habitats were very less gillnet (Mesh size 1-2 cm.) by local fishermen, and sporadic. Along with the painted storks, 10 collection of gastropod species and Bivalves from other water birds from Order- Ciconiformes the habitat by fisher tribes and migrated tribes, over belonging to three different families were found. water lifting by electric pumps for agriculture, The population values of Ciconiformes were high at overuse of water for industries like sugar industry, Jarikot pond (Table- 3) indicating this pond support clay-brick industry, thermal power plants were maximum avian diversity at a very small ecological mainly observed having great concern over the niche (Table-3).; but in the year 2014-2015 due to decrease in fish population from Godavari river less annual rainfall (230 ml) than normal rainfall on basin and the reservoirs in this region as an indirect an average per year (370-380 ml). At this pond the effect responsible for change in food, non- water remain accumulated till August- September. availability of food in their naturally preferred At the peak months of avian diversity October to shallow feeding ground. January there was no water, hence no birds Disturbance factors at foraging grounds including painted storks visited this pond. In the The response of Painted Stork to fly away from the behavioral study of storks to observe their response habitat against the human activities was first time against various anthropogenic activities various recorded simply by measuring the approximate parameters (Table 5.) were selected and the distance between the point of disturbance to place response of storks was noted with the distance of of painted stork habitat. It was observed that, disturbance in meters (Kahl, 1972). As a natural various species of birds respond differently against

http://jsrr.net 52 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Chavan and Dudhmal

Figure 1. A) A group of Painted storks feeding in a suitable water body for feeding – A shallow pond at S. R. T. M. University, Nanded campus.

B) Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) takes long pause of rest during feeding process.

Table 1. Specifications of habitats where the Painted Stork population studies carried out.

Sr. No. Habitat and Google Map Location Latitude/Longitude Area of habitat observed 1 Jarikot Pond, Dharmabad India 18053’40’’N, 77043’40’’E 10 Ha.

2 Godavari River, Cherli Bridge near 18051’50’’N, 77043’40’’E 1.0 Km. Dharmabad, India

3 Derla Pond, Nanded- Latur 190 01’ 03” N 770 16’ 04” E 28 Ha. Highway near SRTM University, Nanded

Table 2. Population of birds from Family- Ciconiformes at different points of three different ponds in Godavari river basin, Nanded.

Bird Different Points around Jarikot Different points on 1000 Meter Habitat Pond, Near Dharmabad, Nanded transect line at Cherli Bridge, Different Points around Derla Godavari River Pond Near Nanded MS Bird A- 1 A-2 A-3 A-4 A-5 B-1 B-2 B-3 B-4 B-5 C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 Species P S 08 09 22 82 180 10 06 40 12 17 04 06 08 04 10 B I 04 02 04 03 06 04 08 06 02 01 00 02 00 03 06

ES 02 04 04 06 08 02 01 04 02 04 12 24 29 35 14 WNS 01 02 04 03 04 02 04 03 02 06 00 00 02 00 01 BHI 04 05 03 04 02 01 00 00 01 04 02 00 03 00 00 OBS 07 04 01 05 04 02 00 00 00 02 02 00 00 03 00 IPH 10 12 08 12 09 02 08 10 08 07 02 03 10 04 02 CE 04 05 06 06 04 01 03 07 06 02 00 02 06 04 04 LE 04 03 04 05 04 00 00 02 04 02 01 03 00 01 00 ME 04 05 05 08 05 02 01 03 01 04 04 07 09 05 10 LAE 04 03 04 03 05 04 02 04 03 02 02 00 02 04 01 N 57 61 72 145 238 33 40 84 44 55 35 55 73 66 54 Mean 4.75 5.0 6.0 12.0 19.8 2.7 3.3 7.0 3.6 4.5 2.9 4.5 6.0 5.5 4.5 (PS= Painted Stork, BI=Black , ES= Eurasian Spoonbill, WNS= White Neck Stork, BHI= Black Head Ibis, OBS= Open Bill Stork, IPH= Indian Pond Heron, CE= Cattle Egret, LE= Little Egret, ME= Median Egret, LAE= Large Egret, N= Total number of species, Mean= Mean of the sample) http://jsrr.net 53 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Science Research Reporter, 6(1):50-57, (April - 2016)

Table 3. Bird species recorded from Order- Ciconiformes during population studies on Painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala) from Godavari river basin, MS. (Chavan et al., 2015).

Family- Ardeidae Scientific Name of Bird species ACOR Ecological Rating Status Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii (Sykes, 1832) A (LC) RC Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (Linnaeus, 1758) A (LC) RC Little Egret Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) C (LC) RM Median Egret Mesophoyx intermedia (Wagler, 1829) A (LC) RM Large Egret Casmerodius albus (Linnaeus, 1758) O (LC) Mr Family – Ciconidae Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala (Pennant, 1769) C (NT) MC Asian Open bill Stork Anastomus oscitans (Boddaert, 1783) R (LC) Mr White Necked Wooly Stork episcopus (Boddaert, 1783) O (LC) W Mr Family- Threskiornithidae Oriental White/Black Head Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus (Latham, 1790) R (NT) MU

Indian Black ibis Psudibis papillosa (Temminck, 1824) R (LC) MU Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia (Linnaeus, 1758) C (LC) WMU

(Ab (Abbreviation in ACOR are A = Abundant, C = Common, O=Occasional, r = Rare), (Abbreviation used for Ecological rating and status are WM = Winter Migrant, RU = Resident Uncommon, Rr = Resident Rare, RC = Resident Common, BM= Breeding Migrant), (IUCN Status – NT = Nearly Threatened, T = Threatened. IUCN Status – LC= Least Concern, NT = Near Threatened, T = Threatened)

Table 4. Alfa Diversity of avifauna containing population of Painted stork at three different Habitat

Sampling Alpha Simpson Dominance Simpson’s Shanon Margalef Equitability Stations Diversity Index Index Reciprocal Weiver Richness Index (D) Index Index Index (1/D) (H) (SR)

Jarikot A-1 0.088 0.911 11.32 2.359 2.721 0.949 Pond A-2 0.094 0.905 10.58 2.343 2.676 0.943 A-3 0.132 0.867 7.562 2.22 2.572 0.893 A-4 0.336 0.664 2.976 1.684 2.211 0.677 A-5 0.576 0.432 1.735 1.123 2.012 0.451 Cherli B-1 0.119 0.880 8.381 2.211 3.146 0.889 Bridge B-2 0.111 0.888 8.966 2.194 2.982 0.882 Godavari B-3 0.253 0.746 3.948 1.844 2.483 0.742 River B-4 0.129 0.871 7.754 2.157 2.907 0.868 B-5 0.134 0.865 7.425 2.184 2.745 0.879 C-1 0.142 0.857 7.00 2.134 3.094 0.858 Derla Pond C-2 0.219 0.780 4.555 1.906 2.745 0.767 C-3 0.203 0.796 4.912 1.908 2.564 0.767 C-4 0.296 0.704 3.378 1.746 2.626 0.702 C-5 0.144 0.856 6.947 2.063 2.758 0.830

http://jsrr.net 54 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Chavan and Dudhmal Table 5. Population status of Painted Stork M. leucocephala at important bird habitats in Nanded district MS. Sampling Alpha Simpson Dominance Simpson’s Shannon Margalef Equitability Stations Diversity Index Index (D) Reciprocal Waiver Richness Index Index (1/D) Index(H) Index (SR) Jarikot N = 301 Pond Av. Pop. = 0.436 0.563 2.289 1.054 0.700 0.655 60.1 Cherli N = 85 Bridge Av. Pop. = 0.291 0.708 3.426 1.392 0.900 0.864 Godavari 17.0 River N = 32 Derla Pond Av. Pop. = 0.201 0.798 4.96 1.544 1.154 0.959 6.4

Table 6. Anthropogenic disturbances and response of Painted Stork M. leucocephala observed at IBH in Godavari river basin in Nanded district MS.

Sr. No. Type of Anthropogenic disturbance Response of Painted stork against the Distance of to Painted Stork (M. leucocephala) type of Anthropogenic and other disturbance disturbance (Meters) 1. Walking of single person towards the Become alert and raise the neck and walk 20-30 Meters Painted storks gathered (Group of 5- few steps 180) in a habitat but inactive and stayed on one or two legs (Resting posture). 2. One person approaching the Group ofa) Stops foraging and more alert and ready to 20-30 Meters storks (Group of 5-180) busy in fly. foraging in shallow coastal water of Fly away ≤ 15 -17 Meters habitat. 3. One person walking fast from 15-20a) Foraging remain continued 15-20 Meters meter distance without taking note of distance. presence of the Group of storks (Group of 5-180) busy in foraging inb) Stops foraging and more alert and ready to ≤ 10 -15 Meters. shallow coastal water of habitat. fly c) Fly away ≤ 10 Meters. 4. Fishermen (1-2) on thermocol rafta) Remain standing resting posture on the engaged in fishing in a river or pond exposed rocks in a water body and non 15-20 Meters responsive distance.

b) Remain standing resting position in the 15-20 Meters coastal water and nonresponsive. distance.

c) Stops foraging ≤ 10 -15 Meters. d) Foraging continued 10-15 Meters e) Become alert and ready to fly 08 -10 Meters. f) Fly away ≤ 08 -10 Meters. 5. 1-2 Cattles approaching the storks ina) Remain in resting posture 03-05 eters resting on coast of water body orb) Foraging remain continued 03-05 Meters foraging c) Stops foraging but do not fly away ≤ 02 -03 Meters 6. Cattle herd approaching the stork a) Remain in resting posture 05-08 Meters b) Foraging remain continued 03-05 eters c) Stops foraging but do not fly away ≤ 02 -03 Meters. d) Fly away ≤ 02 Meters 7. When observed by sitting in a greena) Foraging remain continued 02-05 Meters http://jsrr.net 55 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) colour cloth Tent Set well before their arrival in a habitat. b) Stops foraging with little noise of 20 dbl. ≤ 02 - Meters. but do not fly away. 8. Approach of Herons and Egrets, comba) Remain in resting posture No impact of ducks, spoon-bills, whistling ducks,b) Foraging remain continued activities type a) Rudy shell ducks, spot bill ducksc) Fly away to g). This stork towards a group of storks in resting ond) Stops foraging but do not fly away species remain the coast of water body e) Become alert and ready to fly. friendly with all f) Remain standing resting position in the other water birds coastal water and nonresponsive. and all other water g) Become alert and raise the neck and walk birds in the habitat few steps remain friendly with it. 9. Presence of water birds in the habitat Remain normal for its routine activities of No impact of foraging, resting distance between it and other water birds. 10 Passing of two wheelers from coastala) Remain in resting posture 10-15 meters roads on the habitat where group ofb) Foraging remain continue 10-15 eters storks in resting on the coast of waterc) Fly away 07-08 eters body. d) Stops foraging but do not fly away ≤ 05 -07 Meters e) Become alert and ready to fly. ≤ 02 -03 Meter

f) Remain standing resting position in the 10-15 Meters coastal water and nonresponsive.

g) Become alert and raise the neck and walk06-07 eters few steps Accidental noise of stone mine blastsa) Become alert and raise the neck and walk 50-1000 meters 11. in 500 – 1000 Meter distance few steps 12 Continuous noise in the habitat area ofa) Remain in resting posture 30-40 eters Machine dozers and trucks involved inb) Foraging remain continued 40-100 meters silt excavation. c) Fly away 10-12 meters

the anthropogenic activities. Various anthropogenic (Urfi, 2011) food fishes as food of painted storks. activities and response of Painted stork was noted The fact was supported by absence of the fish scales and shown in Table 6. and undigested skeletal parts of fishes in the fecal Food, Feeding behavior and diet shifting waste. Urfi (2011), Desai et al (1974), Kalam and Urfi The anthropogenic activities and feeding (2008) reported that the painted stork diet from habit, habitat conditions therefore never support the Delhi region mainly include 13 different fish view that, Painted storks in this region feed on species of Indian Major Carps and Silurid fishes. In fishes. Moreover the fecal waste analysis of this the study area from the fecal waste analysis of stork species indicate 80-90 % part of food contains painted stork using Sedgewick-Rafter counted Cell Gastropods and bivalve shells with , method and observations under binocular dissecting filamentous algae and hydrophytes plant parts. Microscope (Carl Zeiss DV4) by numerical method. Nocturnal foraging of Painted stork (Kannan and As per the observations the painted storks were Mankadan, 2007) at Jarikot pond and in Godavari found feeding in a group of 6-20 in the same habitat river at Cherli bridge (Table 1.) were also found, of water depth 10-20 cm. only. By tacto-location but it was isolated single bird found foraging at the method using bill and palpation by foot stirring in selected observation points. Similarly at all the the shallow water. The fish species which were observation points no any nesting site was found. reported as food of stork do not enter in the coastal The chances of getting the food fish for this stork region because Wallago attu, Sperata seenghala, species are greatly reduced because the traditional Puntius ticto, Notopterus kapirat, Channa sp. prefer fisher tribes catch and sun-dry the fish species to live on the bottom of water body hence there is which are common food for this stork species very little or no chance of getting these reported (Chavan et al, 2015a ).

http://jsrr.net 56 ISSN: 2249-7846 (Online) Science Research Reporter, 6(1):50-57, (April - 2016) Painted stork (M. leucocephala) reported as Traditional Methods of Fish Processing by Fisher piscivorous aquatic bird of Indian subcontinent that Tribes in Godavari river basin, (MS), India. Science the anthropogenic activities are responsible for Research Reporter, 5 (2):192-197. soaring of this bird in search of feeding ground is C John Ralf, John R Sauer, San Droege, 1997. the major factor for diet shifting from fish to shell Monitoring Bird Populations by Point Counts . fish in the study area. It supports the view that this Albany, California (http://www.psw.fs.fed.us). species may adopt to feed on Mollusks as a whole Desai JH, RV Shah and GK Menon, 1974. Diet and without chiseling them as main food and algae, food requirement of painted stork at the breeding hydrophytes as supporting food. It represents colony in the Delhi Zoological Park. Pavo. 12. 13-23. Elliott A, 1992. Family Ciconiidae (Storks). In del selective sensitivity to anthropogenic activity Hoyo, J.; A. Elliott, J. Sargatal. Handbook of the Birds impacts on the behavioral ecology of this bird. For of the World. Vol. 1. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. the food and habitat security there should be strict pp. 449–458. monitoring on over fishing and over exploitation of Internet Birds, 2015. Collection of photo, Video, water and sand from the river to prevent man made classification and distribution records of avifauna from alterations of habitat of water birds including all over the world. (www.internetbirds.org). Painted storks. Kahl MP, 1972. Comparative ethology of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Ciconiidae. The Wood-storks (Genera Mycteria and Authors are thankful to University Grants Ibis). Ibis 114 (1): 15–29. doi:10.1111/j.1474- Commission, New Delhi for financial assistance 919X.1972.tb02586.x. under the Research Project Grants for Equipments Kalam A and AJ Urfi, 2008. Foraging behaviour and F. No. 41-65(SR) 2012-11/07/2012. Thanks to local prey size of the painted stork. Journal of Zoology 274 fisher communities in Nanded region to share their (2): 198–204. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2007.00374.x. views about this water bird. Kannan V and R Manakadan 2007. Nocturnal foraging by Painted Storks Mycteria leucocephala at COMPETING INTEREST , India. Indian Birds, 3(1):25–26. The authors of the manuscript have no any Li Zuo Wei, D Siti Hawa Yatim, Howes J, Ilias R, competing interest to publish the contents enclosed 2006. Status Overview and Recommendations for the in the manuscript. Conservation of Mycteria cinerea in Malaysia: Final report of the 2004/2006 Milky Stork REFERENCES field surveys in the Matang Mangrove Forest, Perak. Ali S and S D Ripley, 1978. Handbook to the birds of Wetlands International. India and Pakistan 1 (2 ed.). Oxford University Pattanaik C, SN Prasad, EN Murthy, CS Reddy, Press=93-95. ISBN 0-19-562063-1. 2008. Conservation of Painted Stork habitats in Abdul Jamil Urfi, 2011. Foraging Ecology of the Andhra Pradesh. Current Science, 95 (8): 1001. Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) : A Review; Shivaji P Chavan, Dilip Dudhmal, Shrikrishna Water birds, 34(4):448-456.. Hambarde and AN Kulkarni, 2015b. Birds from Birdlife International, 2012. "Mycteria Godavari River Basin in Nanded district of leucocephala". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Maharashtra State, India: Annotated status and new Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation Reports. In. J. Curr. Res. Aca. Rev.3(4): 328-351. of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013. Urfi AJ, T Meganathan and A Kalam 2007. Nesting Chavan SP, SV Poul, MS Kadam, PM Kannewad, ecology of the Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala at 2015. Traditional and synthetic materials used in , Haryana, India. Forktail 23: fishing gears of Inland Fisheries in Marathwada, India. 150–153. Advances in Aquatic Ecology.9:309-328. Urfi AJ, 2011. The Painted Stork: Ecology and Chavan Shivaji, Dudhmal Dilip, Kannewad Conservation. Springer,New York & Dordrecht,. Pandurang and Pathan Kalimullah, 2015a.

How to Cite this Article: Chavan Shivaji Prabhakar and Dilip Dudhmal, 2016. Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala): Population status, shift in food and behavioral ecology from isolated ponds of Godavari River basin in Nanded district, India. Science Research Reporter, 6(1):50-57.

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