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Ramitha Mangalore Birds

Ramitha Mangalore Birds

CATALOGUE ZOOS' PRINT JOURNAL 16(5): 489-492

A CHECKLIST OF IN AND AROUND UNIVERSITY CAMPUS,

M. Ramitha and K.K. Vijayalaxmi*

Department of Studies and Research in Applied Zoology, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, Karnataka 574199, . *Corresponding author; Email: [email protected]

Abstract on the banks of Nethravathi River. Nethravathi bridge area is Survey of the avifauna present in the Mangalore the estuarine region of river Nethravathi joining the Arabian University Campus, , Mangalore and in the nearby Sea. All these different areas are situated within about 5-7 km of places revealed the presence of 56 species of birds the main study area, i.e. Mangalore University Campus, belonging to 31 families. Of these 48 species were Mangalagangothri, Konaje Village. residents and only eight species were migrants. Materials and Methods Keywords In the present study the observations were made in the selected Birds, checklist, Mangalore University Campus study area. The time schedule chosen for the study was between 0600 and 1000 hours and between 1630 and 1830 hours. Since the study was carried out as part of M.Sc. dissertation work the Introduction time schedule was chosen according to the convenience of the The study area included Mangalore University Campus, authors. However, during the holidays and mid-term vacation, Mangalagangothri and nearby areas like Pavoor, Assaigoli, other timings were also chosen for watching. Observations Someshwar and Nethravathi bridge area connecting Mangalore were carried out with the aid of 8x40 binoculars, and field and Ullal (Figs. 1, 2). The Campus is situated at a distance of characteristics noted down according to the guidelines given about 20 km south east of the city of Mangalore. It spreads over by Achar and Nayak (2000). Birds sighted during the study an area of about 350 acres over looking Arabian Sea on one side period were categorized according to their status as residents and the on the other side (12075'N and 74053'E; (R) and migrants (M). The resident category pertains to the altitude 80m). Average temperature ranges from 200C to 350C. birds that have been known to breed in the study area itself and The vegetation found in this area mainly consists of naturally it also includes local migrants. Migrant birds were sighted grown trees and shrubs like ficus (Ficus bengalensis), alstonia occasionally, only during certain months of study period (Syzygium caryophyllatum), terminalia (Terminalia paniculata), (November and December). ixora (Ixora coccinea), calotropis (Calotropis gigantia), etc. Cultivated plants like cashew (Anacardium occidentale), To prepare the checklist of birds, regular bird watching was mangoes (Mangifera indica), banana (Musa paradisiaca); food done from July 1999 to March 2000. Identification of birds was crops like paddy (Oryza sativa); plantation crops like coconut done with the help of key reference books (Grewal, 1993; Ali & (Cocos nucifera), arecanut (Areca catechu), etc. In addition Ripley, 1995; Ali, 1996; Grimmett et al., 1999). Feeding activities some areas support monocultures like , eucalyptus and of these birds were also noted down to get an idea about the casuarinas planted under social forestry scheme. During food items consumed by these birds and feeding status. monsoon and until the end of post-monsoon period, i.e. up to November, the large, plain areas in the campus are covered with Results and Discussion tall grasses, which remain lush green until October and starts A total of 56 species of birds belonging to 31 families were drying in November and December. In summer these green observed in the Mangalore University Campus and surrounding patches disappear completely. areas.

Someshwar is a marine water beach area and Pavoor is situated Out of the total 56 species observed majority of the birds were residents (85.71%), others were migrants (14.28%). A detailed Received 17 July 2000 Accepted 3 February 2001 checklist of the avifauna recorded during the study period is

May 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(5): 489-492 489 Checklist of birds in and around Mangalore University Campus, Karnataka M. Ramitha and K.K. Vijayalaxmi

Dakshina

Forest Garden

Guest House Administrative Block Quarters

Library Block

Faculty Blocks

Botanical Garden Arabian Sea Paravoor (Forest Nursery) Konaje Someshwara

Vice Chancellor's Bungalow

Figure 1. Map of showing Figure 2. Map of Mangalore University Campus (main study area). locations in Mangalore. given (Table 1). Achar and Nayak (2000) have prepared a acacia, eucalyptus and casuarinas. No quantitative data has checklist of birds of Dakshina Kannada, where they have listed been collected in this regard, but during our continuous bird 366 species of birds. They have taken data for the whole of watching process we made these observations. Dakshina Kannada District, which has a geographic area of about 8436 sq.km. with a coastline of about 140 km. Compared Acknowledgement to this, the study area covered by us is very small with a range Authors are thankful to Dr. S.A. Hussain, Biodiversity Initiative of about 6-8 km. in which we observed 56 species. Kumar and Trust, Mangalore and Prof. K.P. Achar, Sri Bhuvanendra College, Bose (1990) have made a checklist of birds covering Attavar Karkala for the co-operation extended during this study. Village of Mangalore, which consisted of 76 bird species. In their study they have covered larger areas with different habitats. References As far as food preferences of the birds were concerned about 26 Achar, K.P. and G. Nayak (2000). A Field Guide to the Birds of Dakshina species of birds were insectivorous and eight species were Kannada . A Decennial Publication of Bhuvanendra Nature Club, India. frugivorous. Other types included scavengers, predators, Ali, S. (1993). The Book of Indian Birds. 11th Edition. Oxford piscivorous etc. (Table 2). The classes were defined according University Press, Mumbai. to Ali (1993). In our previous studies we have recorded the Ali, S. and S.D. Ripley (1995). A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian insect fauna of Mangalore University Campus (unpublished) Subcontinent. 2nd Edition (updated). Oxford University Press, Mumbai. where we observed large numbers of diverse groups of insects. Ali, S. (1996). The Book of Indian Birds. 12th Edition. Oxford Availability of large quantities of insects may be a reason for a University Press, Delhi. wider insectivorous bird taxa in the region. Grewal, B. (1993). Odyssey Nature Guide to Birds of India, , Nepal, Pakistan and . Guide Book Company, Limited, Hong Kong. Seasonal and perennial fruit bearing trees and plants are common Grimmett, R., C. Inskipp and T. Inskipp (1999). Pocket Guide to the in this place. Hence, we observed some species of frugivorous Birds of . Oxford University Press, . birds as residents of this place. In general bird diversity was Kumar, A. and V.K. Bose (1991). A checklist of birds of Mangalore observed to be directly proportional to plant diversity. More City. Newsletter for Birdwatchers 31(1+2): 10-11. number of birds were observed in areas like gardens, orchards, Manakadan, R., J.C. Daniel, A.R. Rahmani, M. Inamdar and G. mixed vegetation areas and in the botanical garden. Diversity of Ugra (1998). Standardised English common names of the birds of the birds was less in monoculture plantation areas such as cashew, Indian Subcontinent - a proposal. Buceros 3(2): 55pp. BNHS, Mumbai.

490 May 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(5): 489-492 Checklist of birds in and around Mangalore University Campus, Karnataka M. Ramitha and K.K. Vijayalaxmi Back waters, ponds, tanks R Ponds, lakes, rivers, plantations, woodlandsPonds, lakes, rivers, streamspaddy fields, cultivation, M open countryGardens, woodlands, grasslands, R open countryWoodlands, plantations, grass- R land, open countryGardens, orchards, woodlands, R open countryGardens, orchards, woodlands, R grasslandsEvergreen, semievergreen forest R Gardens, wood lands, forests R Cultivation, gardens, scrub jungle R Cultivation, grass lands, open country R Paddy fields, cultivation, human settlements R R R Habitat / habitationsHuman settlements R rivers, Ponds, tanks, marshes, estuaries Status R Merops orientalis Megalaima haemacephala Dinopium benghalense Mirafra assamica Galerida cristata Acridotheres tristis Alcedo atthis Halcyon smyrnensis Merops philippinus benghalensis Upupa epops Megalaima zeylanica Celeus brachyurus Apus affinis Ceryle rudis Green Bee-eater Coppersmith Barbet Black-rumped Flame- backed Woodpecker Alaudidae Rufous-winged Bush-Lark Crested Lark Sturnidae Alcedinidae Common Dacelonidae White-throated Kingfisher Meropidae Blue-tailed Bee-eater Indian Roller Upupidae Common Hoopoe Capitonidae Brown-headed Barbet Picidae Rufous Woodpecker Common nameApodidae House Swift name Scientific Cerylidae Lesser Pied Kingfisher Gardens, woodlands, plantations R Gardens, plantations, woodlands, scrub junglesHuman settlements R R Evergreen, semievergreen forestEvergreen, semievergreen R Cultivation, open landPaddy fields, cultivation, openland R R Grassland, dry open countryStreams, marshes, ponds R stream, sea coastRiver, R Sea coast, marshes, ponds M M Sea coast, marshes, reed beds M Back waters, streams, rivers M Human settlements / habitations R Semi evergreen forestPaddy fields, cultivation, scrub jungle, gardensPaddy fields, cultivation, gardens, R grasslands R R Habitat paddy fields, Ponds/lakes, cultivationPaddy fields, ponds, cultivation R Human settlements Status etc.Streams, sea-coast, estuaries R Grassland and open country R R M Centropus sinensis Athene brama Eudynamys scolopacea Gallus sonneratii Pavo cristatus indicus Vanellus malabaricus Vanellus Charadrius dubius Tringa glareola Actitis hypoleucos Childonias hybridus Sterna albifrons Columba livia Psittacula eupatria Psittacula krameri Psittacula cyanocephala Milvus migrans Falco tinnunculus Ardeola grayii Bubulcus ibis Haliastur indus Centropopidae Greater Coucal Strigidae Spotted Owlet Cuculidae Laridae Whiskered Tern Columbidae Rock Pigeon Psittacidae Alexandrine Parakeet Indian Peafowl Lapwing Yellow-wattled Little Ringed Plover Scolopacidae Wood Sandpiper Common Sandpiper Little Tern Rose-ringed Parakeet Plum- headed Parakeet Phasianidae Grey Junglefowl Charadridae Red-wattled Lapwing Accipitridae Black Kite Falconidae Common Kestrel Table 1. Checklist of birds found in and around Mangalore University Campus. University Mangalore and around found in of birds 1. Checklist Table Common nameArdeidae Indian Pond-Heron name Scientific Brahminy Kite

May 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(5): 489-492 491 Checklist of birds in and around Mangalore University Campus, Karnataka M. Ramitha and K.K. Vijayalaxmi Small Green Bee- eater Omnivorous Grey Jungle Fowl Crow Pheasant Common Myna Insectivorous Cattle Egret Lapwing Lapwing House Swift Blue-tailedBee-eater Blue Hoopoe Bush Lark Crested Lark Golden Oriole Black-headed Oriole Black White-bellied Drongo Indian Treepie Common Babbler Jungle Babbler White-throated Ground Mag-pie Robin Indian Robin Ashy Wren Warbler Dull Green Leaf Warbler Paradise flycatcher Large Pied Wagtail Little Ringed Plover ern Red-wattled Frugivorous Rose–ringed Parakeet Alexandrine ParakeetPlum-headed Parakeet Peafowl Coppersmith Large Green Barbet Red-vented Bulbul Red-whiskered Bulbul Piscivorous Pond Heron Whiskered T Little Tern Pied KingfisherCommon Kingfisher White-breasted Kingfisher Common Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Yellow-wattled Granivorous Blue Rock Pigeon House Sparrow Baya Weaver Black-headed Munia Koel Kestrel Table 2. Classification of observed birds according to their food preference. to their food according birds of observed 2. Classification Table Nectarivorous Purple Sunbird ScavengersPariah Kite Brahminy Kite Predators Jungle Crow owlet ?) Owl (Spotted Gardens, cultivation, human habitationsHuman habitationsPaddy fields, cultivation, grasslandCultivations, grasslands, gardens R R R R Gardens, cultivation, woodlands, scrub jungleScrub jungles, cultivationScrub jungle, human habitations R R Woodlands, plantations, scrub jungleGardens, woodlands, plantations R M Gardens, woodlands, plantations M Marshes, grasslands R Marshes, cultivation, grasslands R Gardens, woodlands, plantations R R HabitatHuman habitationsWoodlands, forests, human habitations woodlandsGardens, orchards, Paddy fields, cultivation, R R Status woodlands, forests forestsEvergreen, semievergreen R R Gardens, woodlands, plantations, forestsCultivation, gardens, woodlands R R R (1998). et al. Nectarinia asiatica Passer domesticus Ploceus philippinus Lonchura malacca Pycnonotus jocosus Pycnonotus cafer Turdoides caudatus Turdoides striatus Phylloscopus trochiloides paradisi Terpsiphone Prinia hodgsonii Cisticola juncidis Motacilla maderaspatensis Corvus splendens Corvus macrorhynchos Dendrocitta vagabunda Dicrurus macrocercus Dicrurus caerulescens oriolus Oriolus xanthornus Common names after Mankadan Passeridae House Sparrow Baya Weaver Black-headed Munia R - Resident; M - Migratory Nectarinidae Purple Sunbird Motacillidae Large Pied Wagtail Cisticolidae Grey-breasted Prinia Red-vented Bulbul Jungle Babbler Greenish Warbler Muscicapidae Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Zitting Cisticola Sylviidae Common Babbler Pycnonotidae Red-whiskered Bulbul Common nameCommon Corvidae House Crow name Scientific Jungle Crow Rufous Treepie Black Drongo White-bellied Drongo Eurasian Golden Oriole Black-hoodedOriole

492 May 2001 Zoos' Print Journal 16(5): 489-492

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