01 Oca 2026 Perşembe
Shifting of nest site preference of Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus): Wetland to human habitation areas
Abstract : The present study provides nesting adaptations of the Black-headed Ibis in human habitation areas at Satkhanda Choraha (24⸰44’36’’N 74⸰38’29’’E) near the Nimbahera-Chittorgarh highway, Rajasthan. Nesting was observed on two Babul (Vachellia nilotica) trees, with 50 nests of Black-headed Ibises. One tree contained 29 nests, and the other contained 21 nests. These nesting colonies located in human-dominated landscapes exhibit considerable resilience by constricting nesting colonies on thorny Vachellia nilotica trees, despite the limited availability of suitable trees near aquatic environments. This adaptation underscores the ibis's capacity to coexist with human populations and emphasizes the necessity of protecting and conserving potential nesting trees in and around wetland habitats. Nevertheless, the frequent felling of trees around wetlands poses a significant threat to the nesting habitats of water-dependent avian species, including the Black-headed Ibis. To ensure the long-term conservation of this species, it is imperative to implement tree-planting initiatives around water bodies and to protect existing trees. These measures will not only benefit the Black-headed Ibis but also contribute to sustaining the diversity and abundance of other heronry birds in the region in the long term.