Nesting Ecology and Breeding Success of Cheer Pheasant Catreus Wallichii in Garhwal Himalaya, India

2005·1.8 MB·

by  M S Bisht

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 102 (3), Sep-Dec 2005 287-289
NESTING ECOLOGY AND BREEDING SUCCESS OF CHEER PHEASANT
CATREUS WALLICHIl IN GARHWAL HIMALAYA, INDIA'
M.S.BishY \S.Phurailatpam-''andB.S. KathaiY
'Accepted December 2004
’Department of Zoology, H.N.B. Garhwal University Campus, Pauri 246 001, Uttaranchal, India.
’Email: [email protected]
•Email: [email protected]
Nesting ecology and breeding success ofthe Cheer Pheasant Catreus wallichii was studied in Garhwal Himalaya,
Uttaranchal from 2000 to 2002. Five active nests were located in May-June and one in September on the south,
southwestandnorthwestaspects,inshallowdepressions;hollowpitsorbelowstones, linedwithdrypineneedlesand
leaves.Thevegetationaroundthenestwaslessthanthedrylitter.Clutchsizerangedfrom6-12. Hatchingsuccesswas
71 percent,butbreedingsuccess wasless than halftheclutch size.
Keywords:Cheerpheasant,nestingecology,breedingsuccess,chicksurvival
INTRODUCTION measuring 10x 10mwerelaidateachnestsitewherecanopy
cover, shrub coverand grass cover was assessed through an
Cheer pheasant Catreus wallichii (Hardwicke), is a arbitraryindexof1-25,25-50,50-75and75-100%(DeVosand
threatened species (Fuller and Garson, 2000), found in the Mosby 1981). Grass height and litterdepth around the nests
Himalaya from northwest Pakistan to west-central Nepal were alsorecorded.
between the Indus and Kali-Gandaki rivers (Ali and Each nest was visited at intervals of 2-3 days, and
Ripley 1980;Garsonetal. 1992).Informationonthebreeding records were maintained on the number and colour ofeggs
biology ofthis pheasant is scarce and mainly derived from laid, shape and size ofnest, hatching success (total number
accounts of Hume and Marshal (1995) on wild birds, ofeggslaidbytotalnumberofchickshatched),chicksurvival
Chandola-Saklanietal. (1990)andSinghandSingh(1995)on (total number of chicks hatched by total number of chicks
captive birds. survived up to 8 weeks), breeding success (total number of
Inthispaperthenestingecology,clutchsize, breeding eggs laid by total number of chicks that survived to
success and associated behaviour of Cheer is described on adulthood), population survival (total number ofadults that
thebasisofsixactivenestslocatedfromyear2000to2002in survived till the next breeding season) and associated
GarhwalHimalaya,India. behaviours.
STUDYAREAANDMETHODOLOGY RESULTS
Cheer Pheasant (called ‘Chair or Phaklas/Phakras’ in Nest site characteristics; Detailed information is
GarhwalHimalaya,Uttaranchal)inhabitsteepslopescovered presentedinTable 1.Thenestswerefoundbetweenaltitudes
by Chir-pine and pine-mixed forests {Finns ro.xburghii, of 1450-1700m.Ofthesixnests: twowereonthenorth-west
Phyllanthus embelliciis Quercus leucotricophora, facingslope,twoonthesouthwestslope,oneonthesouthern
,
Rhododenron arboreiim, Myrica nagi, Lyonia ovalifolia) slope and one on the western slope. The nests were found
between 1000-2150maltitudes.Duringsummermonths(May- under the shelter ofrocks, in a hollow or pit on the ground.
June) their habitats become relatively inaccessible due to Average distances of nests from the nearest escape sites,
m
accumulationofdry slipperypine needles, grass and leaves. namely ridge/cliffand hiding cover were 29.0 ±14.4 and
We were, however, successful in locating six active nests at 11.5 ±1.5 m respectively. Diameter and depth of the nests
differentsitesindistrictsPauriandChamoli,Uttaranchal(29° were24.2±1.6cmand9.3±0.8cmrespectively.Allnestswere
22'Nto31°07'Nand78°07'Eto80° 10'E)duringasurvey made up ofdry pine needles, grass and leaves in a shallow
conducted on status and distribution of Cheer in the year depression. The median scores for vegetation cover around
2000-2001 and2002(Bishtetal.2002).Informationonaltitude, thenestswereasfollows:canopy-25.0%(inter-quartilerange
aspect, position on ground, distance to escape site (nearest - 18.8), shrub- 12.5% (inter-quartilerange-5.0) andgrass
ridgeandhidingcover),dimensionofnestsandvegetational cover- 10.0% (inter-quartile range-0.0). The grass height
cover was collected for each located nest site. Quadrats andlitterdepthwere 17.7±5.5cmand10.6±2.2cmrespectively.
NESTING ECOLOGYAND BREEDING SUCCESS OF CHEER PHEASANT IN GARHWAL HIMALAYA
The nesting sites were characterised by low grass range-39.6)respectively.Thepercentagepopulationsurvival
height and grass cover (except in nest no. V-Table 1). The for the four families recorded before the commencement of
litter depth was significant during May-June, subsequently the next breeding season was 53.6% (inter-quartile range -
depleting during September. The five nests located in May- 14.1).
Junewerefoundneartheridge/cliff(10-25 m),however, the
nestfoundinSeptemberwasfarfromtheridge (100m).The DISCUSSION
grass coverand grass height are positively and significantly
correlatedtodistanceofnestfromridge/cliff(r=0.989,P>0.01 ThebreedingofCheerPheasantinGarhwalHimalaya
andr=0.960,P<0.01 respectively. starts with pairing and territory formation by the end of
)
Clutchsizeand breedingsuccess:Ameanclutch size February. The first courtship display was observed on
of8.5 ±1.0 eggs was recorded. The eggs were ofthe size of March 17. During this period the breeding pairs remain in
those ofadomestic fowl, andcoloured brownishbuff-white isolation within their home range and are sometimes
with reddish brown specks aroundeachend. Eggs from two accompaniedbyanunpairedsub-adultmalefromtheprevious
nestswereprobablypickedupeitherbyvillagersorpredators. year.Themaleperformsmateguardingwhilethefemalefeeds.
From the remaining four nests, 79% (inter-quartile range - Egg laying generally starts by the first week of May and
11.4) eggs were hatched. The chicks were generally dark incubation continues till June. Hatching was observed from
chestnut in colour. mid to end June (I6th, 23rd and 26th) after an incubation
The hatching success recorded was 70.8% (inter- period of 25-27 days. Sub-adults become apparent by the
quartilerange-64.1 )withchicksurvivalandbreedingsuccess first weekofSeptemberand sexual dimorphism iscomplete
of53.6%(inter-quartilerange-51.8)and37.5%(inter-quailile bymid-OctobertoNovember(HumeandMarshall 1995;Ali
Table 1: Nesting ecology and breeding success of Cheer Pheasant
Breeding events Number of nests Mean±SE
or
1 II III IV V VI
1. Location of nest
(a) Altitude (m) 1700 1680 1600 1500 1450 1575
(b) Aspect NW NW S SW SW W
(c) On ground Below stones In a hollow Inapit Below stones Amidst grass In a hollow
2. Distance of nest from escapting site
(a) ridge (m) 10.0 12.0 25.0 10.0 100.0 17.0 29.0 ±14.4
(b) nearest hiding cover (m) 5.0 14.0 15.0 12.5 10.0 12.5 11.5 ±1.5
3. Size of nest (cm)
(a) Diameter 20.3 24.4 21.1 25.9 22.1 31.2 24.2 ±1.6
(b) Depth 7,6 11.2 7.6 11.9 7.9 9.4 9.3 ±0.8
4. Vegetation cover around nest
(a) Canopy cover (%) 50.0 25.0 25.0 50.0 25.0 25.0 25.0 (18.8)
(b) Shrub cover (%) 25.0 10.0 15.0 15.0 10.0 10.0 12.5 (5.0)
(c) Grass cover (%) 10,0 10.0 10.0 5.0 90.0 10.0 10.0 (0.0)
(d) Grass height (cm) 15.2 12.7 11.4 6.4 44.5 16.0 17.7 ±5.5
(e) Litter depth (cm) 10.2 12.7 15.2 16.5 2.5 6.4 10.6 ±2.2
5. Clutch size 8 6* 8 10* 6 12 8.3 ±1.0
6. Hatching success (%) 75.00 0.0 87.50 0.0 66.67 83.33 70.8 (64.1)
7. Chick survival (%) 66.70 0.0 57.15 0.0 75.00 50.00 53.6 (51.8)
8. Breeding success (%) 50.00 0.0 50.00 0.0 33.33 41.67 37.5 (39.6)
9. Population survival (%) 40.00 50.00 D 75.00 57.14 53.6 (14.1)
* IEggs were either removed by villagers or predators; D not recorded; values in the parentheses are inter-quartile ranges
288 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 102 (3), Sep-Dec 2005
NESTING ECOLOGYAND BREEDING SUCCESS OF CHEER PHEASANT IN GARHWAL HIMAUYA
m
andRipley 1980).However,locatinganactivenestat 1500 tohave no significantassociation with habitat features. This
altitude in district Chamoli in September 2001, which later maybecreditedtohighpredationoranthropogenicpressures
producedchickswithbreedingsuccessof33.3%,mayindicate as the nests were exposed due to fire.
an extended breeding season. Larger nests (diameter) appear to have larger clutch
The principal sourceofnesting mortality in Galliform sizes(r=0.87S,N=5,P<0.05)[NestIIwasexcludedastheeggs
species is predation (Jimenez and Conover 2001). The nest were exposed to predation (human/potential predators) due
site(withitscomplexities)isimportantfornestsurvival;asit to forest fire before a complete clutch was laid.] The clutch
should camouflage the nest from predators. The nests sizeof6-12foundinthepresentstudyiscomparativelylower
recorded by us had a stone/rock-wall or litter (mostly pine than9-14eggsreportedearlier(HumeandMarshall 1995).In
leaves) filled hollow/pit as background, which provided a captivity,anaverageclutchsizeof10.8eggs/brood,hatching
good camouflage to the incubating hen. The canopy, shrub success(average56%)andchicksurvival(average57%)has
andgrasscover(exceptinnestno.V werelowwhilethelitter beenrecorded(Chandola-Saklanietal. 1990).
)
coveranddepthweresignificant.Thedullingoftheredorbital Chicksurvivalcanberelatedtofactorslikeinvertebrate
patchduring thebreeding season in the females may alsobe abundance(Hill 1985)andpredationpressure.Adultsurvival
advantageous during incubation. It was observed that the isanothermajorfactorinfluencingpropagationanddispersal,
facial patch ofthe incubating female (while actually on the and is probably affected by excessive hunting during the
nest)isconcealedbythesuperciliaandtheinfraorbitalparts, wintermonths(Bishtetal.2002).
revealingonlytheeyes,makingitalmostinvisible.However, Cheercanadaptrelativelywelltohighlevelsofhuman
this red orbital patch becomes noticeable when it leaves the disturbance(Lelliott 1987).Fires,whichmaybenecessaryfor
nest for feeding. Though the pre-monsoon in May-June maintenance ofopen grassland and scrub communities, are
influence invertebrate abundance (necessary for chick lit during the egg laying and incubating period. This may
survival),itdoesnotaffectthelittercover/depth, which aids disrupt breeding and cause re-nesting (as was witnessed
in making the nest less conspicuous. The monsoon showers during this study), and along with hunting may be a severe
usuallywashthelitterawayandpromotevegetationalgrowth threattothesurvivalofCheerinGarhwal.Habitatdegradation,
during July andAugust. therefore, may not be the only cause of depletion of this
Fiveofthesixnestswerelocatedquitenearridgesand threatened monotypic species.
cliff,apossibleareaforescapefrompredatorsforthoughthe
Cheerruns fastitseldomtakesto wingiftheground isopen ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(HumeandMarshall 1879).ThepresenceofhidingcoverIS-
ISm)nearthenestwasalsoadvantageousincasethefemale We thank the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
wanted to seek shelter. The cause of nesting failure of the Government of India for financial assistance and Mr. A.S.
two nests was predation. Though both nests were located in Negi, ChiefWildlifeWarden, Uttaranchal, forpermission to
habitats similar to successful ones, nesting success seemed carry out the study in the wild.
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