Change in landuse patterns and habitat alterations affecting Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicata) in Punjab
Gursimran Kaur and Tejdeep Kaur Kler
Studies on change in landuse patterns and habitat alterationsof Indian Robin were carried out for one year from January 2017 to December 2017 in the campus of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana considered as location I, village Baranhara (district Ludhiana) as location II and village Ladiankhurd (district Ludhiana) as location III. The breeding season of Indian Robin extended from March to July at studied locations. The observation at transect I, II, III, IV and V has been found in contrast to the eleven nesting sites found in transect VI, VII, VIII and IX. Both the parents participated in the nest formation. The clutch size varied from 2 to 4, but clutches of 3 eggs were more frequent. Eggs were pale greenish in the background with specks and small reddish brown blotches. The morphometerical characteristics of eggs in different clutches were observed at all the studied locations. The female was noted to incubate the eggs while the male were observed to guard the nests against the predators. Indian Robin was found close to human habitation and perched on the rooftops, water tanks, wooden poles and electric wires. It was noted that the the average incubation period was 11.5±0.22 days. The hatching and fledging success of eggs of Indian robin was studied in 16 clutches at the studied locations. A total of 51 eggs were laid during the breeding season, out of which only 44 eggs hatched. It could be inferred from the present study that Indian Robin showed adaptive nesting preferences at the buffer zone of developing colonies and village outskirts.
Gursimran Kaur, Tejdeep Kaur Kler. Change in landuse patterns and habitat alterations affecting Indian Robin (Saxicoloides fulicata) in Punjab. J Entomol Zool Stud 2018;6(5):1903-1908.