Eudynamys Scolopaceus Research Articles

A PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON DIVERSITY OF AVIFAUNA IN KATWA, PURBA BURDWAN, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Birds are used as bio-indicator due to their sensitivity to minor environmental changes. A survey was done from July 2022 to February 2023 to study the avifaunal diversity of Katwa. A total of 67 bird species were recorded during the study period. The species were categorized in three namely common resident (CR), not common resident (NCR) and migratory (M) of which 40 are common resident, 24 are not common resident and 3 are migratory. The found common birds species were house crow, common myna, red vented bulbul, house sparrow, spotted dove, asian koel, little ringed plover etc. Among the not common resident avifauna were Long-legged Buzzard, Cotton teal, Pied-cuckoo, Grey Wagtail, yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail etc. and the three migratory birds were Common Pochard, Red-crested Pochard and Northern Pintail. Katwa and adjoining Ajay Baadh has wide variety of trees, wetland, grassland and agricultural land which is the major contributing factor for the rich avifaunal diversity found during the short study period. This is a preliminary effort for documentation of the avifauna, but more studies and suitable conservation strategies are required in the study area.

Asian koel rapidly locates host breeding in novel nest sites.

Avian brood parasites depend upon locating host nests to lay their eggs. However, how brood parasites locate host nests and select the nests for parasitism remains poorly studied. Here, we examined how a non-evicting brood parasite, the Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) were able to locate host nests in locally novel nest sites. We provided a set of novel nest sites (i.e., nestboxes, n = 100) to the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), a regular host of the Asian koel, at a field site in Central Bangladesh. We found that common myna quickly utilized the novel breeding sites (n = 99 nests across 59 boxes) and similarly, 21.2% of these nests were parasitized by the Asian koel. Unsurprisingly, none of the inactive nest boxes were parasitized, neither were empty nests of common myna (i.e., either predated or fledged clutches, thus lack of parental activity, n = 83). Our results provide an experimental demonstration of the Asian koel ability to rapidly locate nests in locally novel nest sites, potentially facilitated by close monitoring of host activity and behavior around the nest site. However, the underlying mechanisms for this rapid adjustment to novel nest sites remain unresolved.

Recognition of Invasive Characteristics of Areca triandra Roxb. ex Buch.-Ham. (Arecaceae), an Introduced Palm Species in Sri Lanka

Areca triandra Roxb. Ex Buch-Ham native to the Southeast Asian region has been introduced to many tropical areas including Sri Lanka. Although the common occurrence of A. triandra is noticeable in the southwest region of Sri Lanka, there was no prior study and literature available to investigate the aggressiveness and invasive potential of this species. Therefore, the objective of this research was to identify the level of invasiveness and risk level of A. triandra in natural areas by (a) assessing the distribution range, (b) identifying the biological strategies for rapid colonization through a population assessment and reproductive biology assessment. An extensive literature survey was conducted to determine the distribution range of A. triandra in Sri Lanka. A population assessment was conducted in Meethirigala Forest Reserve (MFR) and Yagirala Forest Reserve (YFR). Mature A. triandra percentage, crown cover percentage, and reproductive biology assessment were conducted by establishing six 20 m×20 m plots, and A. triandra seedling percentage was evaluated by using twenty-four 1 m×1 m plots by covering different topographic conditions such as mid-slope and valley. To evaluate the invasiveness and risk level, a protocol for the prioritization of invasive species in Sri Lanka developed by the United Nations Development Organization (UNDP) was used. Results show that the common occurrence of A. triandra was noticeable in the southwest region of Sri Lanka. The abundance of mature individuals of A. triandra account for 57% with an average crown cover of 46% and seedlings account for 69% of the ground layer. The species thrives in locations subjected to natural and anthropogenic disturbances and the high crown cover and dominance of seedlings negatively affect the understory by suppressing native vegetation. This palm is clump-forming with 66% of plants with multiple stems. Sexual reproduction produced a large number of fruits; 150-200 fruits per infructescence and an average of 370 fruits per clump. Direct observation showed that the bright red fleshy pericarp of the fruit attracts frugivores, such as the Asian Koel and Green Imperial Pigeon. Protocol criteria evaluation has resulted in A. triandra being under ―Alert‖ status with the risk level of ―Moderate‖ for the invasiveness under natural conditions. Invasive potential with dense populations, clustering stems, high canopy cover, high fruit production, and effective seed dispersal confirms that A. triandra is displacing and threatening the native ecosystems. Immediate actions should be taken to control A. triandra populations for preventing further spread in natural ecosystems. 
 Keywords: Areca triandra, Arecaceae family, Invasive species, Frugivores, Infructescence

Socio-Cultural Impact of Avian Diversity in the Himalayan Region: A Comprehensive Study of Bird Species in Huddu Village, Chopta, and Deoriatal

The study employed a random visualization method to count and describe bird species in the Huddu Village, Chopta, and Deoriatal regions of the Himalayas. The data, collected through global positioning system (GPS) recordings between March and April, revealed 48 bird species across these areas, belonging to 20 different families and varying orders. The observations included 33 bird species in the Huddu region, 10 in Chopta, and 9 in Deoriatal, each displaying different elevations and geographical coordinates. Aside from birds, the fieldwork documented various flora and fauna species. The research detailed the relative abundance, distribution, and feeding habitats of bird species through recorded tables. Notable high-abundance species in Huddu Village included the streaked laughing thrush, common myna, various drongo species, grey treepie, and yellow or red-vented bulbul. Conversely, low-abundance species like alpine chough, Asian koel, scarlet minivet, and fire-breasted flowerpecker were rare, with their occurrences graphically depicted in the results. The identification of bird species utilized diverse methods, including internet resources and field guides. The study contributes valuable insights into the avian biodiversity of the Himalayan regions, emphasizing the importance of random visualization techniques and recording detailed ecological characteristics.

Habitat Ecology of Asian Koel <i>Eudynamys scolopaceus</i> in Agroecosystem

The important role of birds in agriculture has long been recognized. The present study on the habitat, feeding and roosting behavior of Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) in agro ecosystem of Punjab was carried from August 2021 to July 2022 in Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. It was conducted in three study areas i.e. study area A (agricultural field area), B (tree plantation area) and C (residential/ roadside area). The annual relative abundance of House Crow (Corvus splendens) was highest everywhere whereas of Asian Koel was 1%, 2.04% and 2.66% at study area A, B and C respectively. The feeding behavior of Asian Koel revealed that fruits and berries were preferred. It was found roosting mainly on Dhek, Neem, Peepal, Purple Bauhinia and Safeda trees. Asian Koel was most active during summer months and during the winters, it is not observed which might be because of its southward local migration.

AVIAN AND PLANT DIVERSITY AND THEIR INTER-RELATIONSHIP FROM TULJARAM CHATURCHAND COLLEGE CAMPUS, BARAMATI, DISTRICT PUNE (M.S.) INDIA

The Plant and bird diversity composition of Tuljaram Chaturchand College Campus was investigated to ascertain the ecological status. The study identified 740 plants. The plant species composition was dominated by major trees having 545 plants, followed by 178 shrubs, 12 herbs and 05 other grasses with parasitic plants. In relation with different plant species, the campus was found to attract 24 bird species. Asian Koel, Crows, Sparrows, Rock Pigeon, Red vented bulbul, Spotted owlet, Green bee eater, Sun birds, Drongo, etc. they were dominantly found throughout the year. The college campus is very beautiful because of attraction of various birds and plants.

Asian Koel Removes Nestlings of Elliot's Laughingthrush from Their Nest: Farming or Retaliatory Mafia Behavior?

On 13 June 2021, a video was recorded showing an adult female Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus removing three Elliot's Laughingthrush Trochalopteron elliotii nestlings from a nest in a thicket on the banks of Liqiu River in Xinduqiao Town, Kangding, Sichuan, Southwestern China. This is the first record of an Asian Koel removing nestlings from a potential host's nest. Of the various brood parasitism hypotheses, this behavior is most consistent with the farming hypothesis, further suggesting that farming behavior may be a common strategy used by obligate brood parasites.

Egg rejection and egg recognition mechanism in a Chinese Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus) population

Recognition and rejection of foreign eggs are effective defense of hosts against brood parasitism. However, brood parasitism can impose various selection pressures on different geographic populations of the same host species. In a multiple cuckoo system in China, Azure-winged Magpies (Cyanopica cyanus) are parasitized by both Indian Cuckoos (Cuculus micropterus) and Asian Koels (Eudynamys scolopaceus). In this study, egg recognition ability and recognition mechanism of the Azure-winged Magpie were investigated using a population in Fusong, southeastern Jilin, China. The results showed that 55.6% (20/36) of the Azure-winged Magpies correctly rejected quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs in their nests, while 13.9% (5/36) of the individuals experienced rejection costs by wrongly rejecting their own eggs. Azure-winged Magpies could accurately reject the experimental eggs when the number of such eggs in the nests was the same as that of the magpie eggs. However, Azure-winged Magpies do not recognize and reject conspecific eggs (0/28). The present study indicates that the Azure-winged Magpie has moderate egg recognition ability toward non-mimetic quail eggs and shows a true recognition mechanism with rejecting foreign eggs by accurately recognizing their own eggs. However, they cannot recognize conspecific eggs.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Asian koel Eudynamys scolopaceus (Aves: Cuculiformes) from South Korea

In this study, we analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of Eudynamys scolopaceus using Illumina and Pacbio next-generation sequencing. The total length of the mitogenome was 18,170 bp and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, a non-coding control region, and two repeat regions. The order of the genes and genome structure were the same as those in a previous publication in other Cuculidae species. A phylogenetic tree constructed with 13 PCGs indicated that E. scolopaceus is closely related to Urodynamis taitensis and genus Cuculus.

Total and methylmercury concentrations in nocturnal migratory birds passing through Mount Ailao, Southwest China

Despite growing concerns over mercury (Hg) accumulation in birds in recent decades, little is known about Hg exposure in nocturnal migratory birds. Here, total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were detected in the feathers of nocturnal migratory birds (n = 286, belonging to 46 species) passing through Mount Ailao in Southwest China. The stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) were also determined to clarify the effects of trophic position, foraging guild, and foraging behavior on Hg bioaccumulation. Our results show that the THg and MeHg concentrations varied by two orders of magnitude among all nocturnal migratory birds investigated, with the lowest values (THg: 0.056 mg kg−1; MeHg: 0.038 mg kg−1) in the Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) and the highest (THg: 12 mg kg−1; MeHg: 7.8 mg kg−1) in the hair-crested drongo (Dicrurus hottentottus). Waterbirds showed higher δ15N values and higher THg and MeHg concentrations than songbirds, and the Hg concentrations in piscivorous species were significantly higher than those in herbivores, omnivores, and insectivores. Significant effects of foraging guilds (Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA, p < 0.001) and foraging behaviors (Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA, p < 0.001) on the Hg concentrations in migratory bird feathers were detected. A risk assessment indicated that approximately 7.0% of individuals were at moderate (2.4–5.0 mg kg−1) to high (>5.0 mg kg−1) risk of Hg exposure, and were therefore vulnerable to adverse physiological and behavioral effects. A long-term monitoring campaign during the migratory period is highly recommended to better understand the bioaccumulation of Hg in these nocturnal migratory bird populations over time.

Nesting habits of the Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus (Linnaeus, 1766) in the agricultural landscape of Tindivanam, Tamil Nadu, India

This paper pertains to the nesting habits of Ploceus philippinus (Linnaeus, 1766) with specific reference to the agricultural landscape of Tindivanam Taluk, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu during the breeding period between April and October 2021. A total of 11,386 nests (wad stage-840, ring stage-478, helmet stage-3,980, egg-chamber closed stage-2,865, completed nests-2,028, abnormal nests-938, and damaged nests-257) and 12,600 birds were observed on 832 nest-supporting plants. Nest-supporting plants belonged to 27 species, 26 genera, and 17 families. The three principal nest-supporting palm species—Borassus flabellifer, Cocos nucifera, and Phoenix sylvestris—represented 85.21% of the total nest-supporting plants. The number of nests (including all the stages) per colony varied from 1 to 109 and 70.16% nests were oriented towards the east. Abnormal nests constituted 8.24% of the recorded nests with 17 variations and 90.12% helmet stage nests contained plastering of clay on the inner walls. Nest predation by House Crow, Large-billed Crow, Asian Koel, Black Drongo, &amp; Rufous Treepie and killing of adult Baya Weaver by Shikra were recorded.

A review on brood parasitism in Passeriformes, with an emphasis on Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) and House crow (Corvus splendens) in Pakistan Forest Institute Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A review on brood parasitism in Passeriformes, with an emphasis on Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) and House crow (Corvus splendens) in Pakistan Forest Institute Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Complete mitogenome of the Common Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Linnaeus 1758 (Aves: Cuculidae)

The Common Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Linnaeus 1758, belongs to the family Cuculidae and order Cuculiformes. This omnivorous bird exhibits obligate nest parasitism. Here, the complete mitogenome of E. scolopaceus was determined and phylogenetically compared with those of other Cuculidae species. The newly sequenced complete mitogenome was a circular DNA molecule with a size of 17,610 bp (OM115963). This mitogenome had a higher A + T content (57.58%) than G + C content (42.42%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that E. scolopaceus was most closely related to Eudynamys taitensis and the genus Cuculus, providing useful molecular information for further research on the phylogeny of the family Cuculidae.

Diurnal and Seasonal Patterns of Calling Activity of Seven Cuculidae Species in a Forest of Eastern China

There is very little information on the diurnal and seasonal patterns of Cuculidae species’ calling activity in subtropical areas. In this study, we used passive acoustic monitoring to investigate the diurnal and seasonal patterns of calling activity of seven Cuculidae species at three sites in eastern China’s forest over a year. Our results showed that these species exhibited significant diurnal variations except for Cuculus micropterus. Eudynamys scolopaceus and Cuculus saturatus increased their vocal activity at dawn and dusk, whereas the other four species peaked their calling activity in the morning. Five species showed significant seasonal variations with a peak in vocal activities earlier in the season (late May or early June) and a gradual decline after that, except for Clamator coromandus, which displayed two peaks in seasonal calling activity. As for Cuculus micropterus, its calling activity was not significantly related to the season. Our study has provided basic knowledge about the calling patterns of seven Cuculidae species, and based on seasonal changes in vocal activity we propose that the breeding season of these species in east China begins in late May and ends in July.

No evidence of host-specific egg mimicry in Asian koels.

Avian brood parasitism is costly for the host, in many cases leading to the evolution of defenses like discrimination of parasitic eggs. The parasite, in turn, may evolve mimetic eggs as a counter-adaptation to host egg rejection. Some generalist parasites have evolved host-specific races (gentes) that may mimic the eggs of their main hosts, while others have evolved 'jack-of-all-trades' egg phenotypes that mimic key features of the eggs of several different host species. The Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) is a widely distributed generalist brood parasite that exploits a wide range of host species. Based on human vision, previous studies have described Asian koel eggs as resembling those of its main host, the house crow (Corvus splendens). Using measurements of egg length and breadth, digital image analysis, reflectance spectrophotometry and avian visual modelling, we examined Asian koel egg variation and potential mimicry in egg size and shape, and eggshell pattern and color in three sympatrically occurring host species in Bangladesh: the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), house crow, and long-tailed shrike (Lanius schach). We found some differences among Asian koel eggs laid in different host nests: a) Asian koel eggs in long-tailed shrike nests were larger than those laid in common myna and house crow nests, and b) Asian koel eggs in house crow nests were less elongated than those in common myna nests. However, these changes in Asian koel egg volume and shape were in the opposite direction with respect to their corresponding host egg characteristics. Thus, our study found no evidence for Asian koel host-specific egg mimicry in three sympatrically occurring host species.

Gross Morphological and Morphometrical Studies on the Sternum of Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)

Background: The sternum is one of the most important and characteristic skeletal elements in birds, highly adapted for flight and showing a diverse range of morphogenesis. The Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) is a member of the Cuckoo order of birds, found in the Indian sub-continent, China and Southeast Asia. The present study was carried out as anatomical data on the sternum of this species is scanty. Methods: Carcass of Asian koel brought to the Department of Wildlife Science, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai after the post-mortem examination was biologically macerated, cleaned, dried and morphological and morphometric studies were performed. Result: Gross morphological and morphometric data of the sternum of Asian koel was compared with other avian species. The sternum of Asian koel was large, broad, quadrilateral shaped and highly pneumatized bone with well developed sternal crest, craniolateral and caudolateral processes. These features provide protection to the viscera and facilitates superior flight.

How does human disturbance affect brood parasitism and nest predation in hosts inhabiting a highly fragmented landscape?

Human disturbance represents a considerable challenge for the conservation of living organisms and has profound negative impacts globally. There is substantial variation in how species respond to human disturbance. The main aim of the present study is to examine how human activities influence the risk of brood parasitism and nest predation for three passerine species living in a highly fragmented landscape in Central Bangladesh. We use data collected from 518 nests over nine breeding seasons for three host species of the Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus), a non-evicting brood parasite: i) long-tailed shrike (Lanius schach), ii) common myna (Acridotheres tristis) and iii) house crow (Corvus splendens). Two sources of disturbance were considered: i) houses and buildings inside the study area, the Jahangirnagar University campus and ii) the highly urbanized area outside the campus boundary. Additionally, we regarded iii) nest height, iv) number of days after egg laying until discovery (time unmonitored), v) distance to nearest fruit tree and vi) distance to nearest conspecific neighbor, as important habitat and nest characteristics. We found significantly lower predation risk with increasing time unmonitored in all three host species, thus more regular nest checks by fieldworkers lead to more predation. Moreover, we found that the distance to nearest fruit tree was the most important factor for the risk of parasitism. Although we could not find any significant impacts of distance to boundary or buildings on either predation or parasitism risk, we found a trend both in common myna and house crow that nesting success was higher closer to the boundary. Ultimately, increased monitoring time had the most consistent negative impact on nesting success among the host species. This study highlights the effect of disturbance caused by nest monitoring, exceeding the impact of permanent structures in an around the university campus i.e. boundary and buildings.

Impact of vehicular traffic on birds in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu, India

Roads have numerous direct and indirect ecological impacts on wildlife. Roads constitute an extensive and integral part of our environment. Collisions with vehicles kill a large number of birds every year. The present study was carried out from January 2016 to December 2016. The data was collected from Nehru Memorial College to Pavithram Lake of Thuraiyur to Namakkal road of Musiri Taluk, Tiruchchirappalli District. During this study, we recorded a total of 64 birds belonging to 12 species killed due to vehicular traffic. A maximum of 11 birds were killed in the months of January and October, and a minimum of two bird kills were observed in the months of September and December. Of the 64 birds, the roadside mortality was observed to the tune of 25%, 20.3%, 14%, 12.5%, 10.9%, 4.6%, and 4.6% for Southern Coucal Centropus parroti, Common Myna Acridotheres tristis, House Crow Corvus splendens, Spotted Owlet Athene brama, Indian Jungle Crow Corvus culminatus, Yellow-billed Babbler Turdoides affinis, and Large Grey Babbler Turdoides malcolmi. Other birds such as Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus, Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis, Shikra Accipiter badius, White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus, and White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus accounted for 1.5% mortality. Suggestive measures to prevent wildlife loss due to vehicular traffic are presented in this communication.

High-level individuality in vocalizations of a well-known avian brood parasite: Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopacea L.)

ABSTRACT The Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) is a well-known brood parasitic bird that visits Pakistan every summer from India. This species produces at least five loud call types that are presumed to be used in territorial and mating behaviour. We noticed vocal differences among individuals in the wild and hypothesised that Asian koels produce individually distinct vocalizations. To test this, we recorded type 1 cooee calls, coe calls, type 1 coegh calls, type 2 coegh call and wurroo calls from 46 adult birds in the wild, and measured 15 different acoustic parameters, both spectral and temporal, for each vocalization type. We also measured the Potential of Individual Coding (PIC). Parameters having PIC values ≥1.1 were further analysed through stepwise cross-validated discriminant function analysis (DFA). The DFA accurately categorised 86.5% of the type 1 cooee calls, 95.7% of coe calls, 91.5% of the type 1 coegh calls, 82.2% of type 2 coegh calls and 83.3% of wurroo calls to the individuals from which these calls were recorded. Thus, consistent with our hypothesis, our results indicate that Asian koels produce individually distinct calls.

Hazards of wind turbines on avifauna - a preliminary appraisal within the Indian context

Wind farms are substantial sources of renewable energy in India; however, their spread across the country potentially present new hazards to local and migratory birds. This study explored the risk of electrocution and collision of birds with wind turbines close to eco-sensitive zones in India, including Bakkhali, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Geographic information system and remote sensing technology were used. The results indicate vulnerability of local bird species such as barn owl, Indian Scops Owl, Blue Rock Pigeon, Asian Koel, House Crow, Common Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Ruddy Shelduck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, and Pond Herons, as well as migratory species such as Bar-headed Goose, Red-crested Pochard, and American Black Duck. Modification of wind turbine design and location were considered determinant factors to reduce risk of bird collisions.