Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2023)
JAD 2023, 5(2): 46-56 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Jamtsho S, Phuntsho S, Dorji T, Tharchen L. Foraging and nesting behavior of Pallas’s fish eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus (Pallas, 1771) in the Himalayan Bhutan. JAD 2023; 5 (2) :46-56
URL: http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-237-en.html
URL: http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-237-en.html
1- Paro Forest Division, Department of Forests and Park Services, Postal Code No. 12001, Paro, Bhutan
2- 1Paro Forest Division, Department of Forests and Park Services, Postal Code No. 12001, Paro, Bhutan
3- Royal Manas National Park, Department of Forests and Park Services, Postal code no 31101, Sarpang, Bhutan
4- United Nation Development Program, Postal Code No. 11001, Bhutan
2- 1Paro Forest Division, Department of Forests and Park Services, Postal Code No. 12001, Paro, Bhutan
3- Royal Manas National Park, Department of Forests and Park Services, Postal code no 31101, Sarpang, Bhutan
4- United Nation Development Program, Postal Code No. 11001, Bhutan
Abstract: (5321 Views)
Pallas’s fish eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus (Pallas), is listed as endangered (En) in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with a global population of 2,500 to 9,999 individuals. It is one of the least known species in Bhutan and assessing its foraging and nesting behavior will be one of the best conservation measures to monitor its status, ecology and conservation threats. Therefore, the nesting behavior of the eagle was observed for two months and chick feeding activities for sixteen weeks at 21 vantage points along a 75 km highway in the Punatshangchu River Valley, Bhutan. Fifty households residing 500 m from the river were interviewed using structured questionnaires to examine their perception towards the eagle. A total of 92% (n= 46) of respondents were aware of the presence of H. leucoryphus in their locality and 78% felt that it is a rare and endangered fishing eagle. However, 84% (n= 42) of respondents were not aware of nesting within their vicinity. The sexes of H. leucoryphus can be differentiated by their plumage and the fledgling was observed approximately one week after the end of the incubation period. It took 112 days for the fledging to leave the nest. The study revealed that the eagle preferred foraging between 7 and 9 AM in the morning and in the afternoon from 1 to 3 PM. The maximum foraging attempts occurred in a pool habitat 54% (n= 37) with a success rate of 78% (n= 54). The hunting and feeding of the fledgling was done by the male and prey delivery in the first two months consisted of 78.5% fish and 19.5% rodents. However, the feeding of fish declined by 35% in the next two months and its diet mainly consisted of small birds. Attacks on the fledgling were done by the crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela Latham) (48%), followed by the black eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis (Temminck) (33%).
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Ecological Diversity
Received: 2022/08/15 | Accepted: 2023/06/9 | Published: 2023/09/6
Received: 2022/08/15 | Accepted: 2023/06/9 | Published: 2023/09/6
References
1. Barua, M. and Sharma, P. (1999). Birds of Kaziranga National Park, India. Forktail, 15: 47-60.
2. BBSAP, Bhutan Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (2014). Bhutan Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan, National Biodiversity Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan. Thimphu, Bhutan. pp. 11-15.
3. Berkelman, J. (1997). Habitat requirements and foraging ecology of the Madagascar Fish-eagle Ph.D. thesis. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
4. Bird Life International. (2016). Species factsheet. Pallas’s Fish Eagle. http://www.birdlife.org (Accessed 09 September 2016).
5. Boshoff, A. F., Palmer, N. G., Avery, G., Davies, R. A. G. and Jarvis, M. J. F. (1991). Biogeographical and topographical variation in the prey of the Black Eagle in the Cape Province, South Africa. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, 62 (1-2): 59-72. [DOI:10.1080/00306525.1991.9639642]
6. Brodin, A. Ingemar, J. K. and Holmgren, N. (2003). Optimal energy allocation and behavior in female raptorial birds during the nestling period. Ecoscience, 10 (2): 140-150. [DOI:10.1080/11956860.2003.11682760]
7. Brown, B. T. (1993). Winter foraging ecology of bald eagles in Arizona. The Condor, 95 (1): 132-138. [DOI:10.2307/1369394]
8. Brown, L. H., Gargett, V. and Steyn, P. (1977). Breeding success in some African eagles related to theories about sibling aggression and its effects. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, 48 (3-4): 65-71. [DOI:10.1080/00306525.1977.9634083]
9. Chowdhury, S. U., Foysal, M. and Khan, N. U. (2020). Using community-based interviews to determine population size, distribution and nest site characteristics of Pallas's fish eagle in north-east Bangladesh. Oryx, 56 (4): 627-63. [DOI:10.1017/S0030605321000314]
10. Collopy, M. W. (1984). Parental care and feeding ecology of Golden Eagle nestlings. The Auk, 101 (4): 753-76. [DOI:10.2307/4086902]
11. Cunjak, R. A. and Power, G. (1986). Winter habitat utilization by stream resident brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and brown trout (Salmo trutta). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 43 (10): 1970-1981. [DOI:10.1139/f86-242]
12. Flemming, S. P. and Smith, P. C. (1990). Environmental influences on osprey foraging in northeastern Nova Scotia. Journal of Raptor Research, 24 (3): 64-67.
13. Gilbert, M., Tingay, R., Losolmaa, J., Sureda, N., Gilbert, C., Batmunkh, D. and Gombobaatar, S. (2014). Distribution and status of the Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus in Mongolia: A cause for conservation concern. Bird Conservation International, 24 (03): 379-388. [DOI:10.1017/S0959270913000543]
14. Hillman, T. W., Griffith, J. S. and Platts, W. S. (1987). Summer and winter habitat selection by juvenile Chinook salmon in a highly sedimented Idaho Stream. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 116 (2): 185-195. [DOI:10.1577/1548-8659(1987)1162.0.CO;2]
15. IUCN, International :union: for Conservation of Nature (2016). The IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. https://www.iucnredlist.org (Accessed 09 September 2016).
16. IUCN, International :union: for Conservation of Nature (2021). The IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. https://www.iucnredlist.org (Accessed 10 July 2021).
17. Kaltenecker, G. S., Steenhof, K., Bechard, M. J. and Munger, J. C. (1998). Winter foraging ecology of bald eagles on a regulated river in southwest Idaho. Journal of Raptor Research, 32 (3): 215-220.
18. Lahkar, B. P. (2000). Pallas's fish eagle pirates fish from an otter Lutra lutra. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 97 (3): 425-425.
19. Meyburg, B.-U. (1989). The Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila (heliaca) adalberti: its biology, status and conservation, In: Meyburg, B.-U. and Chancellor, R. D. (Eds.), Raptors in the Modern World. World Working Group on Birds of Prey and Owls, Berlin, London and Paris. pp. 255-268.
20. Nadjafzadeh, M., Hofer, H. and Krone, O. (2016). Sit-and-wait for large prey: foraging strategy and prey choice of White-tailed Eagles. Journal of Ornithology, 157 (1): 165-178. [DOI:10.1007/s10336-015-1264-8]
21. Shephard, J. M., Catterall, C. P. and Hughes, J. M. (2004). Discrimination of sex in the White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster, using genetic and morphometric techniques. Emu, 104 (1): 83-87. [DOI:10.1071/MU03043]
22. Sherub. Using Habitat Models to Predict the Distribution of Birds in Bhutan: Implications for Future Research and Conservation. PhD diss., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2004.
23. Sourav, S. H., Ahmed, B. and Thompson, P. (2011). Pallas's Fish Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus in Bangladesh. Birding ASIA, 16: 101-105.
24. Spierenburg, P. (2005). Birds in Bhutan: status and distribution. Oriental Bird Club, United Kingdom, 400 pp.
25. Steyn, P. (1972). Further observations on the brown snake eagle. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, 43 (3): 149-164. [DOI:10.1080/00306525.1972.9632594]
26. The Eagle Directory. (2012). Pallas's Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus leucoryphus. http://www.eagledirectory.org/species/pallass_fish_eagle.html (Accessed 09 September 2016).
27. The Healthy Headwaters Lab. (2023). Great lakes Institute for Environmental Research University of Windsor, Canada. https://www.healthyheadwaterslab.ca (Accessed 14 June 2023).
28. Tingay, R. E. and Katzner, T. E. (2010). The eagle watchers: observing and conserving raptors around the world. Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, U.S.A. 234 pp. [DOI:10.1111/j.1557-9263.2011.00326_2.x]
29. Watson, J. W., Garrett, M. G. and Anthony, R. G. (1991). Foraging ecology of bald eagles in the Columbia River estuary. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 55 (3): 492-499. [DOI:10.2307/3808981]
30. Whitfield, A. K. and Blaber, S. J. M. (1979). Feeding ecology of piscivorous birds at Lake St Lucia, part 3: swimming birds. Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology, 50 (1): 10-20. [DOI:10.1080/00306525.1979.9633525]
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
| Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb