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Journal of Threatened Taxa Building evidence for conservaton globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Short Communication Nesting pattern of birds in Jahangirnagar University Campus, Bangladesh Israt Jahan, Sajeda Begum, Mohammad Mostafa Feeroz, Delip Kumar Das & Ashis Kumar Data 26 April 2018 | Vol. 10 | No. 5 | Pages: 11618–11635 10.11609/jot.2799.10.5.11618-11635 For Focus, Scope, Aims, Policies and Guidelines visit htp://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0 For Artcle Submission Guidelines visit htp://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions For Policies against Scientfc Misconduct visit htp://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-2 For reprints contact <[email protected]> Publisher & Host Partners Member Threatened Taxa Bird nestng paterns Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2018 | 10(5): 11618–11635Jahan et al. Nesting pattern of birds in Jahangirnagar University Campus, Bangladesh ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) 1 2 3 4 Short Communication Short Israt Jahan , Sajeda Begum , Mohammad Mostafa Feeroz , Delip Kumar Das & ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Ashis Kumar Data 5 OPEN ACCESS 1,2,3,5 Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh 4 Department of Zoology (Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservaton), Jagannath University, Dhaka 1100, Bangladesh 1 [email protected] (corresponding author), 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected], 4 [email protected], 5 [email protected] Abstract: Based on a study on nestng behavior conducted in most commonly used trees were Albizia spp. (natve or long naturalized Jahangirnagar University Campus between 2009 and 2011 brief species) whereas no nest was found in Eucalyptus spp. and only a few descriptons are given of nest site preferences in a diverse habitat, nests were found in Acacia moniliformes, both are exotc trees which variaton in nest shape against height above ground, and materials have been planted in huge numbers in the campus, indicatng that used for constructng nests in diferent tree species. The study birds do not prefer exotc tree species for nestng. It is recommended found that April is the peak tme for nestng due to food availability. to plant more natve tree species, which may also help birds to nest in High competton for tree holes as nest sites forced some species usual sites rather than unusual sites (such as electrical pillars, electrical to build nests in unusual sites, for example Rose-ringed Parakeet boxes, air conditoner boxes, and building holes). Regular monitoring Psitacula krameri, Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra, Common Myna in support of natve tree plantng and raising awareness to reduce Acridotheres trists, and Jungle Myna A. fuscus, Oriental Magpie- disturbance, could enhance the successful reproducton of birds in robin Copsychus saularis showed beter adaptaton to the campus Jahangirnagar University Campus. Finally, an update to the avifauna environment than other birds. Predaton risk was found to be higher of the campus is presented, with 17 species added in this study or for non-hole nests than for hole nests. To minimize predaton pressure, from other recent reports, bringing the total to 195 species, including birds were seen to adopt passive protecton by making false nests one globally ‘Near Threatened’ species, the Brown-winged Kingfsher and constructng well-camoufaged nests. Besides predaton, human Pelargopsis amauroptera. disturbance was observed on low height nests in roadside vegetaton resultng in breeding failure. Reducing human disturbance is needed Keywords: Birds, nest, Jahangirnagar University, patern, exotc, natve. if birds are to achieve beter reproductve success in the campus. The Birds are expert nest-builders among animals and etc.,) and in a bewildering variety of forms and locate they build their nests chiefy to protect their eggs and them in more varied sites than other animals (Welty & young from predators and from adverse weather during Baptsta 1988). The adaptatons of animals can only be the breeding season, the most vulnerable period in fully understood by making observatons in the natural the life cycle. They make nests using many diferent environments in which they have evolved (Baker 1938; materials (e.g., twigs, leaves, dry grass, fbers, feathers, Lack 1965; Wesołowski 1983; Tomiałojc´ et al. 1984). As DOI: htp://doi.org/10.11609/jot.2799.10.5.11618-11635 | ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CBDD575B-B7A3-48CA-AD56-254CB174615A Editor: Hem Sagar Baral, School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury-Woodonga, Australia. Date of publicaton: 26 April 2018 (online & print) Manuscript details: Ms # 2799 | Received 29 May 2017 | Final received 03 March 2018 | Finally accepted 30 March 2018 Citaton: Jahan, I., S. Begum, M.M. Feeroz, D.K. Das & A.K. Data (2018). Nestng patern of birds in Jahangirnagar University Campus, Bangladesh. Journal of Threat- ened Taxa 10(5): 11618–11635; htp://doi.org/10.11609/jot.2799.10.5.11618-11635 Copyright: © Jahan et al. 2018. Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this artcle in any medium, reproducton and distributon by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publicaton. Funding: None. Competng interests: The authors declare no competng interests. Acknowledgements: Thank Paul Thompson, Desmond Allen and Ihtsham Kabir for reviewing the manuscript. Thanks to Dr. Reza Khan, wildlife specialist of Dubai Government, Dr. Md. Kamrul Hasan, Dr. Md. Monirul H. Khan, Mr. S.M. Robiul Alam, Samiul Mohsanin, Naziat Afrin Mitul, Sumon Sarker, Shainy Mehzabin Tonny, Ateya Akhter, Anik Saha for their sincere co-operaton in research work. 11618 Bird nestng paterns Jahan et al. such, studies of a range of resident bird species in the are characterized by Acacia pinnata, Aegle marmelos, diverse habitats of Jahangirnagar University Campus Syzygium cumini, Zizyphus sp., Artocarpus heterophyllus, were conducted to investgate nestng paterns which A. chaplasha, Acacia moniliformes, Eucalyptus sp., have not been well documented before. Mangifera indica, Tectona grandis, Swietenia mahagoni Jahangirnagar University Campus (JUC) is notable and Shorea robusta (Hossain et al. 1995). The campus for the diversity of bird species found. The richness of ground is slightly undulatng and the soil is deep brown bird species in the campus is due to diverse habitats and to yellowish-red due to high iron content. All the large limited human disturbance (Mohsanin & Khan 2009). wetlands, together with the grasslands and bushes The diverse habitats of the campus provide a potental in the south and the woodlands in the central part of breeding ground for many resident birds (Feeroz et al. the campus serve as hotspots for feeding, roostng and 1988; Khan et al. 1999; Begum et al. 1993, 1994, 2011; nestng of birds (Mohsanin & Khan 2009). Begum 2001, 2002, 2003; Akhter et al. 2007; Sultana et The climate of JUC is characterized by three main al. 2004; Jahan et al. 2016). A total of 180 species of seasons: summer (March–May), monsoon (June– birds were previously reported from JUC of which 74 October) and winter (November–February). During the species are breeding residents that nest to complete study period summer was warm, rainy and humid, like their breeding cycle in the university (Mohsanin & the monsoon, whereas winter was cool and dry. April Khan 2009). This study aimed to investgate the nestng has the highest average temperature of 33.90C, whereas patern of diferent species over three years (2009–2011) January has the lowest average temperature of 13.70C, and improve understanding of the adaptatons of birds humidity varied between 72.2% and 89.8%, and total in JUC. In additon an update to the avifaunal checklist annual rainfall was about 1,800mm (Department of of JUC is presented based on observatons during this Geography and Environment, Jahangirnagar University). nest study and compilaton of other data recorded by other bird watchers. Nestng data Nestng was studied over three breeding seasons Methods - 2009, 2010 and 2011. The breeding season of most Study Area resident passerine birds in JUC is from January to August The Jahangirnagar University Campus (90.259– (Begum et at. 2011) while it is varied in non-passerine 90.2730N & 23.867–23.8980E) is located 32km northwest residents over the year (Begum 2003; Sultana et al. 2004; of Dhaka city in central Bangladesh, and is about 280ha Akhter et al. 2007; Jahan et al. 2016). Data was collected in area (Fig. 1). The area was formerly part of a vast tract on daily walks through the campus using binoculars of “Sal” Shorea robusta forest and is now dominated by and telescope. To fnd nests, birds’ movements were secondary vegetaton. The campus comprises diferent carefully observed in the feld with special atenton habitats including wetlands, grasslands, open scrub given to those birds carrying nest materials. Nestng jungle, cultvated land, woodland and human habitaton. birds were observed from natural hides near the nestng There are monotypic plantatons of medicinal plants tree by maintaining a sufcient distance away from the and fruit trees. The campus harbours 230 plant species birds to minimize disturbance. A small boat was used belonging to 159 genera and 62 families (Hossain et al. to search for kingfsher nests in the earthen banks of 1995). The wetlands consist of permanent water bodies ponds. and marshy areas, around 22ha, and support a large The feldwork was carried out between 06:00–18:00 number of resident and migratory birds (Akhter et al.