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Glossy Ibis Plegadis Falcinellus Breeding In Correspondence 198A Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus breeding in Rajasthan, India AKS observes the breeding colony of Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus regularly at the Nehru Talai heronry (25.30°N, 74.63°E), in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. This wetland is situated in a highly populated part of Bhilwara city. At 0800 h on 17 June 2020, AKS saw a Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus on an Acacia nilotica tree; it was incubating an egg, and adding Anil Kumar Tripathi some material to its nest. He saw another nest of the Glossy Ibis on another Acacia, just 3 m away. Both nests were c.5 m above the ground. Other nesting birds of this heronry were the Black-headed Ibis, the Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans, and the Black-crowned Night Herons Nycticorax nycticorax. They had 209. Glossy Ibis hatchling in nest. constructed 105, 46, and 87 nests respectively. Glossy Ibis nests were placed c.10 m away from the nests of other birds in the heronry. The diameter at the outer rim of the Glossy ibis’s nest was 28 cm, that of its cup was 08 cm, and its depth was 04 cm. Nest was primarily made by sticks. Besides the plant material, a small quantity of threads and pieces of plastic bags were also incorporated in the nest. One of the nests was abandoned after a few days, but the other had an egg in it. A hatchling was seen in this nest on 08 July [209], indicating an incubation period, assuming it was the same egg, of at least 21 days. For 17 days (08–24 July), the Sharma Kumar Anil fledgling was seen in its nest. For 9 days (24 July–01 August), it perched around its empty nest and receiving food from their parents. Then for another 12 days (01–12 August), it was seen feeding in a shallow area of this wetland, near the nesting site. By the end of August (24 August), the Glossy Ibis abandoned 210. Juvenile Glossy Ibis feeding in shallow area. the feeding site; only a few juveniles of Black headed Ibis were seen feeding here. From 02 August onwards, we began to see some Glossy of birds had not been published. However, we reviewed our Ibis adults and juveniles (15 birds) [210] that were feeding methods to ascertain we followed all their guidelines. Visits were in the shallow area of the wetland. The Glossy Ibis fledgling in the late mornings and afternoons, and as AKS was studying mostly foraged around this island. Since it was younger than heronry birds, he had all the necessary monitoring equipment other juveniles it had less pigmentation and seemed to lack the always in hand. Visits were made once in 3–4 days to minimize ability to fly long distances, and hence it was easy to identify impact. While we measured, or estimated, some of the nest from the other juveniles. The island of this wetland had dense parameters, like tree species, height of the nest from ground, vegetation, which screened the nests on the inner side from our GPS location, distance between nests, distance from tree axis, view. Though it’s highly likely that they also fledged out from the or distance from nests of other heronry birds, a nest’s physical same wetland, we cannot be certain of this fact. parameters like nest size, cup diameter, cup depth, or nesting Post breeding, most Black-headed Ibis nests in this heronry materials were documented after the nestlings had fledged out. completely deteriorate due to the close-packed nests, wherein, Hence, every care was taken to ensure that the breeding birds sometimes one stick is part of two, or more, nests! Each nest were not disturbed. of that species contains two or three nestlings and by the time We are thankful to Satish Sharma, retired ACF, Forest they fledge, the nests’ sticks become loose and fall down. Late Department of Rajasthan, for his valuable suggestions. nesting birds of the same species use the remains of the nests. Unlike these nests, the empty nests of Glossy Ibis remained References intact. Barve, S., Raman, T. R. S., Datta, A., & Jathar, G., 2020. Guidelines for conducting The Glossy Ibis is a common species in Rajasthan, and is research on the nesting biology of Indian birds. Indian BIRDS 16 (1): 10–11. seen throughout the year (SoIB 2020). It is surprising that no SoIB. 2020. State of India’s Birds factsheet: Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus. Website URL: other record of its breeding exists from the state despite deep https://www.stateofindiasbirds.in/species/gloibi/. [Accessed on 06 July 2020.] searches into www.ebird.org, www.indianaturewatch.net, www. Tiwari, J. K., & Rahmani, A. R., 1998. Large heronries in Kutch and the nesting of Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus at Luna Jheel, Kutch, Gujarat, India. Journal of the inaturalsit.org, www.orientalbirdimages.org, and published Bombay Natural History Society 95 (1): 67–70. literature in Pittie (2020), as well as discussions with other birdwatchers from Rajasthan. It has, however, been reported – Anil Kumar Sharma [AKS], Rekha Bhawnani & Anil Kumar Tripathi breeding, from September to October, in the neighbouring state All authors: Aquatic Ecology and Biodiversity Research Lab, MLV Government College Bhilwara, Rajasthan. India. of Gujarat (Tiwari & Rahmani 1998). Anil Kumar Sharma. E-mail: [email protected] While we did the study, the Indian BIRDS’ new guidelines Rekha Bhawnani. E-mail: [email protected] (Barve et al. 2020) for conducting research on the nesting biology Anil Kumar Tripathi. E-mail: [email protected].
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