Population Status, and Breeding Success of Lesser Adjutant Stork( Leptoptilos javanicusHorsfield,1821) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal.

Abstract

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is outstanding bird hot-spots area, more than 50% of birds species of Nepal is recorded here. This research highlights on population, habitat preferences and breeding success in different months with respect to different habitat sites. For analysis of Population Size, used line transect method i.e. fixed 20 points, each point that the distance demarked about 500m covering in area of 100 ha. R- software to perform all the statistical analysis was used. Altogether, 95 individuals of Lesser Adjutant Stork in different months was recorded. Using Jacknife technique for the estimation of population was found 22 individuals. There was significance difference (P(𝜒2)<0.00000146 in distribution pattern of Lesser Adjutant Stork in different months due to seasonal variations. Chi-square 𝜒2 for 10df at 𝛼₁=0.01 and 𝛼₂=0.05 were found 2 and respectively were very smaller than calculated value ence is rejected thus It was concluded the Lesser Adjutant Stork LAS should be clumped or random distribution over the different months. Like wise another analysis One-Way ANOVA was used. There was significance difference( P>F=0.000159) in numbers of Lesser Adjutant Stork along with different habitat types, due to effect of habitat heterogeneity and their preferences in different seasons. One-way anova for df (ν₁= ν₂=8) at 𝛼=0.05 revealed 4.07 which was less than that of calculated value 26.8. hence, H₁ is accepted and concluded that Lesser Adjutant Stork prefers wetland comparison to other habitat sites. For the breeding success, nest searching programme was conducted September to December 2011. five nests were observed in Kamalpur ward no. 3 and 4. Amnog them only one nest was active i.e. 3 hatchlings were seen on Karam Tree (Adina cardifolia). breeding success in KTWR Seems very low. Based on active nest as primary unit the breeding success was found 33% while based on occupied nest as primary unit the breeding success was found 20% only. Population frequency was high in February and March in prenesting period, and during the nesting period the frequency of LAS was very low. because all the storks should come back to breeding site to make nest for copulation. Lesser adjutant Stork prefers winter season, they were seen in plenty of number in wetland than others habitat sites.The major threates to decline the LAS was due to habitat loss and modification, hunting and persecution, pollution and disturbances