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VOL. 2, ISSUE 5 (2017)
Feeding behaviour of Indian black kite (Milvus migrans) inhabiting the arid zone of Rajasthan
Authors
SK Sharma, KC Soni
Abstract
The feeding behaviour of the Black kite (Milvus migrans) was studied during the 2012-2014 in twelve microhabitats in and around Churu city (28o 15’ N and 74o 55’ E, 286 msl) of Rajasthan, India. Focal sampling method was used to study various feeding and foraging behaviours of the Black kite found in different microhabitats. Observations were taken in twelve viz. waste water body (WWB), municipal garbage dumping station (MGDS), animal dead body dumping station (ADBDS), agriculture field (AF), sand dune (SD), forest area (FA), slaughter house (SH), grazing field (GF), out skirts area of highways (OSH), human inhabitation (HI), graveyard area (GYA) and garden area (GF). Actively feeding individual was selected as a focal bird and attempts were made to cover different individuals found in various feeding sites. From the recorded seven variables; standing on ground, snatching, hovering, perch hunting, gliding and hovering, intraspecific cleptoparasitism and interspecific cleptoparasitism were also calculated. Snatching behaviours mostly applied in the eleven microhabitats. But success rate was more in SH and less in AFH, GYA and GA with 90.94%, 22.22%, 25.00% and 25.00%. This behaviour depends upon the situation and type of behaviour. In sand dunes (SD), the Black kite used perch hunting behaviour many times in a day to dig out the beetles and lizards.
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Pages:58-61
How to cite this article:
SK Sharma, KC Soni "Feeding behaviour of Indian black kite (<em>Milvus migrans</em>) inhabiting the arid zone of Rajasthan". International Journal of Zoology Studies, Vol 2, Issue 5, 2017, Pages 58-61
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