Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

The breeding biology of red vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) was studied in district Okara, Pakistan. A total of 69 nests were located in the study area and breeding activity was recorded from 51 active nests. The parks were the preferred sites for successful nests construction (46%) followed by orchids (28%) and agricultural fields (27%). The data on position of the nests on plant showed that highest numbers of successful nests were found on forks (48%) while nests on middle, terminal and other positions were recorded as 17%, 10% and 25%, respectively. The preferred height for nest construction on plant was recorded 1-2m (58%) followed by 2-3 m (17%), 0-1 m (16%), 3-4 m (7%) and 4-5 m (1%). Red vented bulbul prefer to make nests on Northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis; 32%) followed by Guava (Psidium guajava; 19%), Mango (Mangifera indica; 9%), White mulberry (Morus alba; 9%), Sweat orange (Citrus x sinensis; 9%), Bubul (Vachellia nilotica; 7%), Banyan (Ficus benghalensis; 4%), Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina; 3%) and Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera; 3%) in the study area. The highest number of nests were recorded with clutch size 3 (87%) followed by 2 (11%) and 4 (2%). A total of 154 eggs were recorded from 51 nests, from which 10% eggs were infertile, 19% were predated and other losses counted 4%. A total of 104 eggs under observation were hatched, from which 28% were predated and 6% were fallen out from the nest. The fledgling success was highest in parks and orchids (39%) compared to agricultural fields (22%). It is concluded that breeding biology of red vented bulbul in Okara have unique features with preferred plant for nest construction as northern white cedar and highest breeding success in parks and orchids.

Biography

E-mail: arbushra@uaar.edu.pk