Study of Nesting Behaviour of Painted Stork (Mycteria Lecuocephala) in Rajpura Village, Kota, Rajasthan, India

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATION IN ENGINEERING RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT ISSN: 2348-4918

Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal IMPACT FACTOR: 3.693 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL)
2 conference (ICIRSTM) 2019
ND

STUDY OF NESTING BEHAVIOUR OF PAINTED STORK (MYCTERIA LECUOCEPHALA) IN


RAJPURA VILLAGE, KOTA, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

Harshit Sharma1, Anshu Sharma2, Dr. Surabhi Shrivastava3, Dr. Subrat Sharma4
1Research Scholar in Zoology, 2Research Scholar in Zoology, 3Co-ordinator, Department of
Wild Life Science, UOK, Kota and 4Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Govt. College
Kota

Abstract - The village Rajpura (27⁰7’0”N 76⁰1’49”E) is located near Kota district, Rajasthan.
It is about 26km. away from Kota. The study was carried out from July 2018 to December
2018. Painted storks were sighted first time in Rajpura pond doing nesting. During the
study period 200 nests were observed in the pond trees. All the nests were built on Babul
trees (Acacia nilotica) within the pond. The nest construction and egg laying was observed
in the months of July 2018 and August 2018. Both males and females carried over
incubation and other parental care. The main factor affecting nesting site selection were
food and habitat availability. The nest built material consisted of old branches of trees and
some soft green leaves. The observation suggested that Rajpura was one of the best nesting,
feeding and breeding site for the Painted storks. So it is need to take immediate steps
towards the conservation of such diversified pond.
Keywords : Painted storks, Acacia nilotica, Nesting, Rajpura

1 INTRODUCTION
Painted storks are widespread throughout wetland birds. Rajpura wetland is a
the Indian subcontinent. The Painted permanent freshwater pond with marshes
Stork is a large wading bird in the and swamps having emergent vegetation.
Ciconiidae family. Painted stork is The average annual rainfall of Kota
currently classified as near threatened. It district has been reported to be 742.8mm
has a long, heavy bill and unfeathered in 2018.
waxy yellow face. It is mainly white with
black barring on wings and breast and 3 METHODOLOGY
black flight feathers. They display white The survey was conducted during July
plumage with a rose colour near the tail 2018 to December 2018 at Rajpura pond
feathers. Juveniles are with pale dirty near Kota district, Rajasthan. All the
brown plumage and like most other storks observations were made during early
reach breeding condition after two to morning and evening. The observations
three years. Painted storks are found were made with data sheets and Nikon
within a variety of habitats. They are 12×50 binoculars. The photographical
found at shallow fresh water wetlands recordings and video recordings were
and marshes. Painted storks feed in captured through Nikon camera with
shallow wetlands. They feed mainly on Nikon 200×500 mm lens.
fish but they also like frogs and snakes.
They are resident in most regions but 4 RESULT
show seasonal movements also. They are Painted storks breed on trees (Acacia
absent from desert areas. Painted storks nilotica) either in mixed colonies along
build their nests near the water body. with other water birds. The female lays 2-
During the present investigation the main 3 eggs and both male and female incubate
factor affecting the nest site selection was eggs. The courtship displays involve ritual
food and protection availability. Both male bowing with the head being raised and
and female participated in nest lowered while performing bill-clattering
construction activites. The Painted Stork and producing hisses. The breeding
is a monogamous species. season starts after mid July in northern
India. Painted storks are colonial tree
2 STUDY AREA nesting birds. Colonies are abundant on
Rajpura village (27°7'0"N 76°1'49"E) is large trees in villages. The breeding colony
situated 26 Km away from Kota city. was seen near human settlements. The
Rajpura pond was one of the best nesting nesting trees selected were only Babul
site for the Painted storks and other (Acacia nilotica). Both male and female

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VOLUME :06 Special Issue 02 Paper id-IJIERM-VI- II-April 2019
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATION IN ENGINEERING RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT ISSN: 2348-4918
Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal IMPACT FACTOR: 3.693 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL)
2 conference (ICIRSTM) 2019
ND

involved in nest sanitation. The nests Painted storks visited the Rajpura during
were repaired regularly with fresh leaves breeding time only. Nesting birds usually
and sticks of Eucalyptus and Acacia gave preference to the safe nesting area,
nilotica. The nets were always guarded by availability of the nesting material and
one partner once the site was selected. plenty food for nesting. All these
The incubation period was about one conditions are favourable in Rajpura
month. Parents regularly stood at the nest pond. Ali & Ripley (1987) state thatthe
with wings out stretched to shade the breeding season of storks is highly
chicks. Approximately 500 Painted storks dependent on the monsoon and related
visited the village Rajpura. 200 nests were water conditions, which trigger the
made by Painted storks in Rajpura village. abundance of food.

Fig.1 Carrying and collecting nesting material (Acacia nilotica and Eucalyptus) by
brooder

Fig.2 Breeding colony of Painted Storks

5 CONCLUSIONS are also thankful to Mr. C.S. Shrivastava


Based on the study we can suggest that and D.K. Sharma from Kota for their
Rajpura is one of the best breeding site constant help during the study period on
for such near threatened species. field activities.
Awareness about this ecologically
important species should be created REFERENCES
among local people and efforts should be 1. Lack, D. 1968. Ecological Adaptations for
Breeding in Birds. Methuen, London.
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2. Urfi, A. J. 1993a. The birdlife of Okhla.
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I must pay my heartful thanks to Head, 4. Maheswaran, G. and A. R. Rahmani. 2002.
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Thanks are also due to Department of Pradesh, India. Journal of Zoology (London)
258: 189-195.
Wildlife Science, University of Kota for
their help during our investigations. We

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VOLUME :06 Special Issue 02 Paper id-IJIERM-VI- II-April 2019
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATION IN ENGINEERING RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT ISSN: 2348-4918
Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal IMPACT FACTOR: 3.693 (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL)
2 conference (ICIRSTM) 2019
ND

5. Urfi, A. J. 2003a. Record of nesting colony of (Phalacrocorax spp.) from the Delhi region,
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Park, Haryana, India. Forktail. 23: 150-153. Andhra Pradesh India, A case study.
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among three sympatric cormorants

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VOLUME :06 Special Issue 02 Paper id-IJIERM-VI- II-April 2019

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