Abstract
The nesting habits of Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus with reference to nest-supporting plants, developmental stages of nests, nest orientation, and the occurrence of abnormal nests were studied in rural areas of Arakkonam taluk, Tamil Nadu. A total of 4,311 nests (wad stage: 161, ring stage: 266, helmet stage: 1,776, egg-chamber closed stage: 843, complete nests: 979, and abnormal nests: 286) were recorded. A total of 4,438 birds were estimated for the nesting colonies (this estimate arrived at by totalling highest counts of birds recorded from each of the 405 nest-supporting plants). The number of nests on the nest-supporting plants ranged from 01 to 61. Most of the nests (80.86%) were oriented towards the east. Abnormal nests comprised 6.63% (n=286) of total nests, and eight types of abnormalities were recorded. In all, 189 nests (4.38%) were found hanging over waterbodies. A significant correlation was observed between different developmental stages of nests and various nest-supporting plant species, and also between the number of birds and nests with respect to nest-supporting plants at p<0.05 level. Among the helmet stage nests (i.e. incomplete ones), 96.5% (n=1,714) had clay deposits on the inner walls. A total of 458 fallen nests (in various stages of development) were found under the nest-supporting plants. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda was found to damage nests (n=242) by pecking a hole near the anterior part of the brood chamber to prey on eggs and chicks in five villages.References
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