Abstract
This study examined the species composition and nest-tree characteristics of diurnal raptors in the tropical forests of Moyar Valley, Western Ghats between December 2012 and March 2013. We recorded 28 species of raptors including three species of vultures. Accipitridae was the dominant family comprising of 25 species followed by two from Falconidae and the monotypic Pandionidae. Among them, eight species fall under various threatened category: three Critically Endangered, one Endangered, two Vulnerable and two Near Threatened. The Critically Endangered Gyps bengalensis was frequently recorded during the survey (175 sightings) followed by Milvus migrans (39 sightings) and Haliastur indus (27 sightings). We located 53 active nests of four species of raptors, viz., Gyps bengalensis (42 nests), Nisaetus cirrhatus (4 nests), Haliastur indus (4 nests), and Milvus migrans (3 nests). A notable difference in the nest-tree characteristics among the sympatric raptors was observed. These results would be important to identify priority areas for developing future conservation and management programs for the long-term conservation of raptorial birds in the Western Ghats.
Highlights
Raptors generally occupy the apex of terrestrial and aquatic food webs, and play key roles in balancing ecosystems (Paine 1966; Thiollay 1989; Anderson 2001; Thiollay 2006) by maintaining community structures of prey species (Keith et al 1998; Ferguson et al 2005; Roth & Weber 2008)
Raptor distributions are influenced by a variety of factors, including landscape heterogeneity, interspecific competition, predation and the availability of nestsites and food resources (Thiollay 1989; Anderson 2001; Pearlstine 2006)
Information on raptors and their habitat associations are crucial for their conservation and management, but data on the distribution and populations of most Indian raptors are lacking due to difficulties in identification, low population densities and forest dwelling habits (Thiollay 1994; van Balen 1998; Naoroji 2006)
Summary
Raptors generally occupy the apex of terrestrial and aquatic food webs, and play key roles in balancing ecosystems (Paine 1966; Thiollay 1989; Anderson 2001; Thiollay 2006) by maintaining community structures of prey species (Keith et al 1998; Ferguson et al 2005; Roth & Weber 2008). Raptors typically have low population density and require large home ranges, and they serve as good indicators of ecosystem quality (Newton 1979; Thiollay 1992; Redpath & Thirgood 1999) for conservation and management efforts (Sergio et al 2006). Information on raptors and their habitat associations are crucial for their conservation and management, but data on the distribution and populations of most Indian raptors are lacking due to difficulties in identification, low population densities and forest dwelling habits (Thiollay 1994; van Balen 1998; Naoroji 2006)
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