CATALOGUE ZOOS' PRINT JOURNAL 16(5): 489-492 A CHECKLIST OF BIRDS IN AND AROUND MANGALORE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, KARNATAKA M. Ramitha and K.K. Vijayalaxmi* Department of Studies and Research in Applied Zoology, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, Karnataka 574199, India. *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, Konaje, 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 bird 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 Western Ghats 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 acacia, 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 Kannada Forest Garden Guest House Administrative Block Quarters Library Block Faculty Blocks Botanical Garden Arabian Sea Paravoor (Forest Nursery) Konaje Harekala Someshwara Vice Chancellor's Bungalow Figure 1. Map of Dakshina Kannada 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, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 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 Indian Subcontinent. Oxford University Press, New Delhi. 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 May 2001 May Checklist of birds in and around Mangalore University Campus, KarnatakaVijayalaxmi K.K. and Ramitha M. Table 1. Checklist of birds found in and around Mangalore University Campus. Common name Scientific name Habitat Status Common name Scientific name Habitat Status Zoos' Print Journal Ardeidae Apodidae Indian Pond-Heron Ardeola grayii Ponds/lakes, paddy fields, House Swift Apus affinis Human settlements / habitations R cultivation R Cerylidae Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Paddy fields, ponds, cultivation R Lesser Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Ponds, tanks, marshes, rivers, Accipitridae estuaries R Black Kite Milvus migrans Human settlements R Alcedinidae 16(5): 489-492 16(5): Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Streams, sea-coast, estuaries etc. R Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Back waters, ponds, tanks R Falconidae Dacelonidae Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus Grassland and open country M White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Ponds, lakes, rivers, plantations, Phasianidae woodlands R Grey Junglefowl Gallus sonneratii Evergreen, semievergreen forest R Meropidae Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Cultivation, open land R Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus Ponds, lakes, rivers, streams M Charadridae Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis paddy fields, cultivation, Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Paddy fields, cultivation, open R open country R land Coraciidae Yellow-wattled Lapwing Vanellus malabaricus Grassland, dry open country R Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Gardens, woodlands, grasslands, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Streams, marshes, ponds R open country R Scolopacidae Upupidae Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola River, stream, sea coast M Common Hoopoe Upupa epops Woodlands, plantations, grass- Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Sea coast, marshes, ponds M land, open country R Laridae Capitonidae Whiskered Tern Childonias hybridus Sea coast, marshes, reed beds M Brown-headed Barbet Megalaima zeylanica