DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT Indian roller (Coracias benghalensis) feeds on insects which are harmful for the crops thus playing an important role in agricultural ecology and increasing crop yield. In present study, population density, habitat preferences, breeding behavior and nest survival rate of Indian roller were assessed at three different sites in district Bahawalpur, Southern Punjab, Pakistan. However, the results obtained after this study, revealed that the population density was damagingly affected by the high usage of pesticide, as the population density in areas with less pesticide (100.1±18.33 birds /km2) was far greater than the areas where pesticide was used in high quantities (34.26±7.46 birds /km2) and the population density of these birds at the forest (78.44±11.2 birds/km2) was nearly similar to the field area where pesticides were not much used. It preferred the trees having an average height of 8.94±2.18m for their habitat selection and at the height of 5.45±2.06m. They mostly preferred dead trees (56.25%) for nesting as compared to (43.75%) living trees. The tree species preferred most for nesting was Tamarix aphylla (31.25%). The lowest hatching success and survival rate were noted in the highest pest used sites. It was concluded that the high usage of pesticide is a significant threat to Indian roller for its survival and there is much need of replacing pesticides which are harmful for birds as well as humans with biological control method, which is eco-friendly and healthy for both the bird and humans and also very economic.