தொல் தமிழர் அறிவியல் - 93 : 29. அன்றில் பறவை
அறிவியல் நோக்கு
. Indian Grey
Hornbills compete among themselves for nest cavities and we observed a pair
chasing another pair during nest searching. The other nest competitors in the
study area were Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri, Golden-backed
Woodpecker Din opium Javanese, Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis, Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscous and Indian Palm
Squirrel Funambulism palm arum. All these species were noted to disturb
hornbills during their nest searching and also while the female was inside the
nest cavity. Nests of Rose-ringed Parakeet, Common Myna and Golden-backed
Woodpecker were recorded in different cavities of the same nesting tree used by
Indian Grey Hornbill. All the nest cavities were found to be occupied later by
the competitors after the hornbills had bred. In addition, Large Brown Flying
Squirrel Petaurista philippensis and honeybees Apis sp. were recorded in two
cavities each, after the use by Indian Grey Hornbill. Two of the 32 nests were
pred
In the study area, Indian Grey
Hornbills used tall trees (mean 2±7 m) with large girth (mean 3±1 m) for
nesting. Hornbills using tall trees with large girths were also reported in
various other studies. Mudappa & Kannan (1997) reported Malabar Grey
Hornbill nests at an average height of 24 m and the diameter at breast height
as 60– 89 cm. Maheswaran & Balasubramanian (2003) reported a mean tree
height of 36±6 m and 283±101 cm width for Malabar Grey Hornbills. Kinnaird
& O’Brien (1999) reported a mean height 40±10 (m) and a mean width 117±41
cm in diameter for nest trees of Sulawesi Redknobbed Hornbill Aceros Cassidy.
Poaching of Indian Grey Hornbills was not recorded during the study. Cattle
grazing and lopping of branches of hornbill food plants for feeding livestock
is the major problem of the study area. Extension of agricultural activities in
the riverine forests disturbs breeding sites. As all hornbill nests were
located in trees that are tall, with a large girth and in riverine habitat, protection
and conservation of nest trees and the lowland riverine habitat in the Eastern
Ghats is recommended.
Inseparable
Anril bird
“ The Anril, a
topical bird of a large white beak ic frequently referred to in Sangam literature. It is a typical
love-bird, the male of which never leaves its female species except going out
for food. The male usually chooses a long tree to prepare a nest with a cavity
inside for the female to stay in, during the breeding season. The chicks and the mother bird remain within the nest
until the chicks attain a maturity to fly.
Anril bird is
popularly known as the nightingale of India. Its attachment with its male bird
is frequently referred to in Sangam literature .
Kurunthogai (160)
says that the brown- headed male remains
happily with its mate on the tall Thada trees.
Natrinai (303) refers
about the mating sound of the male Anril
that makes my lady-love sleepless and unhappy, so says the lover. Poem number
(124) repeats the sorrow of separation felt by a lady-love and sadly bemoans
her loneliness.
Kurinjipattu
(219-220) speaks of a male Anril bird of curved beak as that of a bended horn
that calls its female bird from the tall Palm-grove tree.
A few more poems quoted above from
Sangam literature reiterate the same information on the behavior of Anril
birds.
The study of these birds along with that of identical hornbills ensures that Sangam literature is true to nature and speaks of matters that are facts and real.” –Editor.-------தொடரும்……
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