Population and Diversity of Birds in the Kodanadu Area of
Nilgiris, Western Ghats of Tamilnadu, South India

Subramanian C

doi:10.23880/izab-16000165

International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology Research Article 10 min read

Population and Diversity of Birds in the Kodanadu Area of Nilgiris, Western Ghats of Tamilnadu, South India

Subramanian C^*

^* Corresponding author

ISSN: 2639-216X 10.23880/izab-16000165 Received: June 29, 2019 Published: July 19, 2019

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23 references

5 figures

4 tables

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Keywords

Biodiversity Birds Kodanadu Nilgiris Western Ghats

Abstract

The abundance of birds consisting of 46 species, 8 orders and 25 families were recorded. The maximum number of sightings was obtained in the house sparrow (Passer domestics). The lowest number of sightings (n=4; ER=0.06/km walked) were had in the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) from overall observations. The Encounter Rate was high for house sparrow Passer domesticus (25.9/km) in the rainy season and low for Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis (0.07/km) when compared to other species. The Encounter Rate of birds in the study area in different seasons (Rainy and Summer) were observed with the variations. In summer season, the Encounter Rate was high for house sparrow Passer domesticus (27.25/km) and in the rainy season low for Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis (0.05/km) when compared to other species. The other bird species were moderately found in the ER. In the study area, the diversity index was estimated using the alpha diversity. The overall diversity index (alpha diversity) of birds in the study area was observed low (-1232). The seasonal wise, the index were showed -1372 in summer and-1152 in rainy seasons.

Introduction

Birds are widely recognized as good bio indicators of the quality of the ecosystems and the health of environment [1, 2]. The Birds are an important component of the forest ecosystem play a major role as consumer and disperser of plants, seeds and controllers of inset population. The scavenging bird species assist in cleaning environment, while others control crop and animal pests, and some serve as indicators, of changes in environmental quality. The changes in the status of birds may warn of habitat loss and modifications and can indicate the likely impact of these threats on other animals and plants [3].

Population and Diversity of Birds in the Kodanadu Area of Nilgiris, Western Ghats of Tamilnadu, South India The studies of avian community are effective tools for monitoring forest ecosystems globally. Birds are responsive to change; their diversity and abundance can reflect ecological trends in other bio diversities. Because of their highly specific habitat requirements, birds are increasingly intolerant of even slight ecosystem disturbances. The habitat structure, diversity and their relationship with the fauna provides information about the habitat utilization which ultimately leads to the management and monitoring species, habitats and the ecosystem. The information on status and distribution of species especially threatened and endemic birds, in Int J Zoo Animal Biol

prediction of distribution level and conservation efforts at all potential sites of their occurrence [4, 5, 6].

A few preliminary surveys were done by Sudha, et al. [7] in some areas in the Nilgiris. Some parts of Nilgiris were studied for baseline data on avifaunal population and its diversity [8]. Some of the baseline study on avian population and diversity were carried out by Sivakumar, et al. [9] Angel Deva Sheela, et al. [10], Mahalakshmi, et al. [11], Karthick, et al. [12], Chandrasekar, et al. [13] in the patches in the Nilgiris.

Apart from the some preliminary surveys were done by various workers in very few areas, in Nilgiris on the ages still there was a gap to fulfill and to do the documentation of avian study on population and diversity in the upper Nilgiris. Due to the lack of scientific information on the abundance, population and diversity of different species of birds in the Nilgiris, the present study was designed and carried out in the s elected areas in the upper Nilgiris.

Materials and Methods

The study for abundance and population of bird species was carried out from the selected intensive study areas. The study of abundance and population and its diversity was studied by the following methods and described.

Methods for Birds Abundance and Population

The Line transect method as described by Burnham, et al. [14] Buckland, et al. [15] and was adopted for estimating the abundance and population of avifauna in the study areas of study areas and adjoining areas. The line transects that were laid in different direction in the study areas. In which, the data on species, and individuals for avian fauna were collected while sighting on the transects. The line transects were also laid in the different altitudinal gradient and available habitats. The Nilgiris it consisting of Shola patches, deciduous, ever green and semi ever green habitats and harbours variety of faunal diversity [16].

Study Area

The study was carried out in the Kodanadu area (Kodanadu, Ealada, Nedugula, Suntatti). It is a tourist spot near Kotagiri town, in Nilgiri District of Tamil Nadu. This area is located about 18 km east of Kotagiri on the eastern edges of Nilgiris (11°31′29″N 76°54′57″E). It covers an area of 10sq km. Kodanadu View Point is the one of the main view spot and it ranged up to 2734msl and it covers 19.20Sq km area. And it comprises more than16 villages. Temperature ranges from 20°C-29°C in summer and the annual rain fall in the Kodanadu area is 1100mm. The rainfall varies between 1000mm-1500mm. The wild animals such Elephant (Elephus maximus), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Common Langur (Presbytis entellus), Gaur (Bos garous), Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Samber Deer (Cervus unicolor), Porcupine (Hystrixindica), Himalayan Mouse Hare (Ochotona roylei), Black-naped Hare(Lepus nigricollisnigricollis), Indian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Squirrel (Ratufa indica) are found in the study area. This area consists of natural forest areas and Tea plantation along with vegetable cultivations Maps 1&2.

Figure 1: Shannon index of diversity (α diversity) for birds abundance in different seasons (n=diversity index).

Figure 2: Number of species in various orders of birds (n=species).

Map 2: Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu India.

Results

Population of Birds in Kodanadu Forest Area

A total of 46 birds species were had in all the transect during the study period. The abundance of birds was estimated as Encounter Rate (ER)/km walked in the field. Out of 4543 individuals, the maximum number of sightings (Encounter Rate=28.13/km walked) were obtained in the house sparrow (Passer domestics). The lowest number of sightings (n=4; ER=0.06/km walked) were had in the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) from overall observations. The Encounter Rate was high for house sparrow Passer domesticus (25.9/km) in the rainy season and low for Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis (0.07/km) when compared to other species (Table 1).


1	Indian Black Eagle	Ictinaetus malayensis	0.68	0.48	0.52
2	Tawny Eagle	Aquila rapax	0.39	0.61	0.46
3	Painted Bush-quail	Perdicula erythrorhyncha	0.18	0.35	0.25
4	Grey Junglefowl	Gallus sonneratii	1.56	1.72	1.91
5	Indian peafowl	Pavo cristatus	0.11	0.22	0.34
6	Spotted Dove	Streptopelia chinensis	1.84	1.93	1.31
7	Emerald Dove	Chalcophaps indica	0.34	0.31	0.36
8	Malabar parakeet	Psittacula columboides	0.21	0.26	0.44
9	Vernal Hanging-parrot	Loriculus vernalis	1.23	1.36	1.57
10	Common koel	Eudynamys scolopacea	0.09	0.08	0.08
11	Greater Coucal	Centropus sinensis	0.07	0.07	0.09
12	Great Hornbill	Buceros bicornis	0.09	0.05	0.06
13	Streak-throated Woodpecker	Picus xanthopygaeus	0.71	0.43	0.42
14	Common Flameback	Dinopium javanense	0.85	0.24	0.35
15	Nilgiri Pipit	Anthus nilgiriensis	1.07	1.08	1.08
16	Yellow Wagtail	Motacilla flava	0.91	0.47	0.41
17	Grey Wagtail	Motacilla cinerea	1.87	1.36	1.35
18	Scarlet Minivet	Pericrocotus flammeus	0.09	0.09	0.08
19	Red-Whiskered Bulbul	Pycnonotus jocosus	4.86	4.26	4.79
20	Red-Vented Bulbul	Pycnonotus cafer	0.55	0.06	0.58
21	Yellow browed Bulbul	Acritillas indica	0.89	0.41	0.26

Table 1: Encounter Rate of birds in different summer seasons (ER/km walked).

22	Oriental Magpie-robin	Copsychus saunaris	0.81	0.53	0.8
23	Pide bushchat	Saxicola caprata	1.71	1.47	1.25
24	Indian Robin	Saxicoloides fulicatus	0.49	0.36	0.31
25	Kashmir Flycatcher	Ficedula subrubra	0.89	0.43	0.54
26	White-Bellied Blue-flycatcher	Cyornis pallipes	0.08	0.09	0.07
27	White-browed Fantail	Rhipidura aureola	0.65	0.35	0.33
28	White-spotted Fantail	Rhipidura albogularis	0.43	0.41	0.27
29	Common Tailorbird	Orthotomus sutorius	0.53	0.57	0.39
30	Grey-breasted Prinia	Prinia hodgsonii	0.51	0.36	0.21
31	Ashy Prinia	Prinia socialis	0.36	0.33	0.29
32	Thick-billed Babbler	Acrocephalus aedon	0.48	0.25	0.28
33	Puff-throated Babbler	Pellorneum ruficeps	0.69	0.39	0.22
34	Yellow-billed Babbler	Turdoides affinis	0.36	0.22	0.23
35	Great Tit	Parus major	0.28	0.09	0.07
36	Black-lored Tit	Parus xanthogenys	0.82	0.72	0.54
37	Purple-rumped Sunbird	Leptocoma zeylonica	0.36	0.08	0.09
38	Oriental Whit-eye	Zosterops palpebrosus	0.75	0.43	0.41
39	Long-tailed Shrike	Lanius schach	1.85	1.51	1.71
40	Brown Shrike	Lanius cristatus	0.78	0.61	0.3
41	House Crow	Corvus splendens	7.82	7.87	8.15
42	Large-billed Crow	Corvus macrorhynchos	9.36	6.21	7.1
43	Common Myna	Acridotheres tristis	7.47	3.8	3.75
44	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	25.9	27.25	28.13
45	White-billied Drongo	Dicrurus caerulescens	0.36	0.21	0.25
46	Common Rosefinch	Carpodacus erythrinus	0.28	0.09	0.07

Table 2: Encounter Rate of birds in different summer seasons (ER/km walked).

other bird species were moderately found in the ER (Table 1). A total of 4543 individuals of birds were obtained from all over observations in the study area. The abundance of birds consisting of 46 species, 8 orders and 25 families were recorded (Table 2 & Figures 1-3).


1	Falconiformes	2	Accipitridae	2
2	Galliformes	3	Phansianidae	3
3	Columbiformes	2	Columbidae	2
4	Psittaciformes	2	Psittacidae	2
5	Cuculiformes	2	Cuculidae	2
6	Coraciifores	1	Bucerotidae	1
7	Piciformes	2	Picidae	2
8	Passeriformes	32	Motacillidae	3
9	-	-	Campephagidae	1
10	-	-	Pycnonotidae	3
11	-	-	Turdidae	3
12	-	-	Muscicapidae	2
13	-	-	Rhipiduridae	2
14	-	-	Cisticolidae	3
15	-	-	Sylviidae	1

Table 3: Order and Family-wise abundance of birds in Kodanadu during the study period.

16	-	-	Timaliidae	2
17	-	-	Paridae	2
18	-	-	Nectariniidae	1
19	-	-	Zosteropidae	1
20	-	-	Laniidae	2
21	-	-	Corvidae	2
22	-	-	Sturnidae	1
23	-	-	Passeridae	1
24	-	-	Dicruridae	1
25	-	-	Fringillidae	1

Table 4: Order and Family-wise abundance of birds in Kodanadu during the study period.

Figure 3: Number of species in various families of birds (n=families).

The Shannon Index of a Diversity

In the study area, the diversity index was estimated using the alpha diversity. The overall diversity index (alpha diversity) of birds in the study area was observed low (-1232). The seasonal wise, the index were showed- 1372 in summer and -1152 in rainy seasons.

Discussion

The result of the present study reveals that the abundance of birds in the Kodanadu is also an attraction for the many tourists and even though the birds are not much more except some species of birds. These species are most beautiful coloration are attract with the charming calls, throughout year in the path of Nilgiris. The present study area (Kodanadu) in the Nilgiris harbors about 46 species of birds and it includes many endemic to Western Ghats.

According to Renuka, et al. [17] reported 32 species were also obtained in the Botanical garden Udhagamandalam many birds are higher in number in the abundance except some migratory species of birds. Similar observations were made in the boathouse area in Ooty [18]. Karthick, et al. [12] studied in selected sites in the Ketti area which was house sparrow (Passer domesticus) was higher encounter rate and Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinere) was lower encounter rate. Sudha, et al. [7] recorded the maximum individual for House sparrow (Passer domesticus) in Udhagamandalam. Similarly, the current investigations are also supporting to previous studies. The Western Ghats have one of most complex and patchy landscape in India. The Western Ghats have diverse avifauna there are 507 species of birds known from Western Ghats and adjacent narrow coast line of these 360 bird species at residents with 16 being endemic. The Nilgiris hills in the Western Ghats are known for its high endemism. According to Karthik, et al. [12] reported the strong relationship between the rainy and winter seasons for the population of different bird species. The Shannon index of alpha diversity shows the low number to indicate the diversity in the study area. Similarly Kalaiyarasi, et al. [19, 20] observed the higher abundance in House sparrow in Nilgiris.

The diversity (alpha diversity) of birds in the study area was observed low and the seasonal wise, the index were negative in rainy seasons obtained.

Several detailed study have been conducted on different aspect on birds in this Nilgiris region [2, 21, 22, 23] Birds unimportant component of the forest ecosystem play a major role as consumer and disperser of plants, seeds and controllers of inset population. Scavenging bird species assist in cleaning environment, while others control crop and animal pests, and some serve as indicators, of changes in environmental quality. Changes in the status of birds may warm of habitat loss and modifications and can indicate the likely impact of these threats on other animals and plants. Habitat structure, diversity and their relationship with the fauna provide information about the habitat utilization which ultimately leads to the management and monitoring species, habitats and the ecosystem.

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